Aargh... took longer to catch-up than I thought it would!



All the gorguns are within the funnel of thorns.

Round 1 saw Borun's Black Tentacles spell snare 5 of them.

Round 2 saw another 6 gorguns rush forward into the tentacles.

At the end of round 2, two of the trapped front gorguns were able to break free and move forward. The nature of the attacks so far haven't enabled the gorguns to locate the source of the attacks, but their senses still detect 'prey' ahead of them.


Those of you still in the thorn fort, or otherwise waiting for the gorguns to get close enough, can now attack with range weapons, or move to engage the first two in melee.


Tilaleria has been waiting in the 'kill box' for them to reach her. The first one does and she has no problem hitting it. It is not intimidated by her, but it is staggered.

00:43, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 16 using 1d20+11 ((5)).

He, of course, attacks back!

00:49, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 34,33,36,36 using 1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19 ((15,14,17,17)).

All four of his clawed arms miss... or at least miss doing any damage.



Arithal drops another Lightning Strike down on one of them.

The one thing that Jak had learned over the years was patience. He kept an eye out on the perimeter while he waited for the gorguns to get close enough. As it was, he almost missed his chance as Tilaleria took the battle to one of those that had broken free of the black tentacles. He'd have to remember to thank whoever had cast that spell!

He'd also been waiting for the more powerful spellcasters to 'soften up' the creatures.

He leaped the fort wall and dashed within 30 feet of the one  that Tilaleria wasn't bashing on.

Then he flung his deadly card at it, using Arcane Strike to channel True Strike through it.

06:08, Today: Jak rolled 57,38,12 using 1d20+39,1d20+19,1d4+9 ((18,19,3)).

I sure hope that's a hit... and a critical...

Only 12 points for a hit but 24 if it's a critical.

Before the beast can advance to attack, Jak nimbly dances back to the fort and over the wall, courtesy of his magic boots.

Having already cast Blur on Tilaleria, Borun stepped into the path of the second gorgun and channelled power through his fists.

Swift action: arcane strike
Full-round action: flurry of blows

First attack including Stunning Fist attempt: 36
Stunning Fist Fort save DC 22
Damage: 21

If the gorgun is stunned by the first attack, then Borun continues with the second attack (against lower AC). If the gorgun is not stunned on the first attack, then Borun will attempt Stunning Fist again on the second attack.

Second attack: 26
Stunning Fist Fort save DC (if relevant): 22
Damage: 15

If neither of the first two attacks achieved stun, Borun will not attempt Stunning Fist again.

Third attack: 27
Damage: 13

Fourth attack: 22
Damage: 17

If the gorgun was stunned by either of the first two attacks, Borun gains two more attacks with Medusa's Wrath.

First Medusa's Wrath attack: 25
Damage: 15

Second Medusa's Wrath attack: natural 1

Although she and Nightbreeze were anxious to get into battle, as an Arcane Archer, she was also quite good with ranged attacks.

She had some of the abilities of the others, but had chosen to let them attack first. She had no justification for feeling this way, but she felt she was the last line of defense.

Well, not by herself... as she glanced at the others that were waiting. Even with Orndir and Garan and Grimfast and Arithal and the Dwarves, they could be overrun by the gorguns in such massive numbers. No, this plan was the smart and safe way to go. Cut down their numbers before they ever got into melee.

She was wearing the Mask of the Archmage at the moment, and deciding to help whittle down the numbers from behind her makeshift fort. She cast Scorching Ray at the next one still trapped in the tentacles.

19:54, Today: Sky Sheer'enn rolled 26,8 using 1d20+15,4d6+2 ((11,1,2,2,1)).

"Well, that could have gone better," she commented to those beside her. "Just barely hit the brute, and didn't do so well at that!"

She still had two more rays to use; hopefully they'd work better.

The two lead gorguns are getting hit quite a lot, but neither of them has gone down yet. The one on the left (the 'leader') was not shaken, but it is staggered.

The second one was not stunned by Borun's flurry of blows, but the damage has taken its toll on the creature. Since he wasn't stunned (just barely), Borun never got the Medusa's Wrath attacks, so no fumble.

The creature strikes back with its four arms.


20:22, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 36,10,32,15 using 1d20+19,1d8+9,1d20+19,1d8+9 ((17,1,13,6)).

20:23, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 33,16,22,10 using 1d20+19,1d8+9,1d20+19,1d8+9 ((14,7,3,1))

The gorgun manages to hit Borun twice, for 10 points of damage with the first hit, and 16 points with the second.


Sky's scorching ray just barely strikes an entangled gorgun and does almost minimal damage.


At the end of the round, three of the gorguns trapped by the tentacles break free, though no more enter that area. They are momentarily unsure of how to proceed (they aren't fast thinkers).

Arithal drops another lightning bolt on one of them.


As far as the gorguns are concerned, it's just mass confusion. Anyone with spells or ranged attacks can attack pretty much at will. There are enough characters to keep watch to make sure none of them 'break away from the herd'.

Tilaleria gave silent thanks to her trainers, and to the good luck that had allowed them to prepare for this. Without that preparation she suspected that the flurry of blows from the vile creature would of been pretty devastating. As it was, it was only by the skin of her teeth, and her mistress's training that she'd survived it

Still she had survived it, and she didn't want to mess around with this thing. There were plenty more and just the fact they had survived the magical onslaught indicated how tough they were!

Her fists and feet moved. The essence of her fighting style was to deny the opponent the opportunity to attack, while creating opportunities to strike at full power with deflection or parrying. As the Gorgun's attacked her, she put this into practice every movement an attack, every piece of footwork a kick, every parry an attack as deadly as a sword blow.

Once again, Tilaleria has no problem hitting the gorgun. In fact, her first two blows kill it just as two of the others that escaped the black tentacles charge forward.

She gets an attack of opportunity on each of them as they enter one of her threatened squares, and then she attacks the first one with her 3rd flurry attack, and kills it.

She now uses her 4th flurry attack against the other one, which turns out to be a critical, doing maximum damage of 48 points, and killing that one.


Arithal drops another lighting bolt on one at the end of the round.


Two more gorguns break free of the tentacles and surge forward.


At the end of the round, Tilaleria is standing amid three dead gorguns. Borun is engaged with two more, and another two are moving forward.


Sky shoots another Scorching Ray at the same gorgun at the beginning of the next round, who happens to be one that just got loose.

19:45, Today: Azurak the Blue, on behalf of Sky Sheer'enn, rolled 26,21 using 1d20+15,4d6+2 ((11,6,6,3,4)).

Borun was dismayed to see the gorgun resist his attempt to disable it. Worse still, Borun himself suffered two blows from the creature. At least Borun's False Life spell soaked up the worst of the injuries, but now the spell was depleted.

He was encouraged by Tilaleria's more successful attack on the monsters. Borun was prepared to continue his offensive and hopefully buy more time for his companions.

Same as last turn

Swift action: arcane strike
Full-round action: flurry of blows

First attack with Stunning Fist attempt: 24
Stunning Fist Fort save DC 22
First attack damage: 12

Again, if the gorgun was stunned by the first attack, Borun will continue making normal attacks (against the lower AC). If not stunned, Borun shall attempt Stunning Fist again.

Second attack roll: 23
Stunning Fist (if relevant) DC 22
Second attack damage: 16

If both of the first two Stunning Fist attempts failed, Borun will not try that again.

Third attack roll: 22
Third attack damage: 19

Fourth attack roll: 27
Fourth attack damage: 15

If the gorgun was stunned by either of the first two attacks, he gains two more attacks with Medusa's Wrath.

First Medusa's Wrath attack: 32
Damage: 12

Second Medusa's Wrath attack: 35
Damage: 17

Current hp: 134 of 140

Everyone was throwing lightning, and fire, and physical harm... So not wanting to be left out Saxon took a few chemicals and mixed quickly.

With a shake and a toss he placed one of his makeshift grenades in the largest mass of gorgons presented.Today: Saxon the Dead Smith rolled 14 using 5d6 with rolls of 1,5,2,2,4.

Breathing a sigh of relief that they had fallen so quickly: mostly thanks to the horrific magical damage they had endured on the way in, Tiloleria moved to intercept the two that had just got free, attacking one as she got close to it, and preparing to deal with the onslaught of both. She could see Borun was dealing with his two, that the others were putting the hurt into the ones trapped, so these two were probably her's

Arithal drops another lightning bolt from the sky... for only 8 points. He's going to start targeting the ones at the back, in an effort to whittle down the numbers as well as drive the rest forward into the kill zone.


20:03, Today: Arithal Kodiak rolled 4,15,10,9,14,9,14 using 3d6,3d6,3d6,3d6,3d6,3d6,3d6 ((1,2,1;6,5,4;2,5,3;3,3,3;6,2,6;2,2,5;6,4,4)).


Since he's got 7 more of those to drop, I just rolled for all 7 of them... apply one per round as needed.

Seeing more of the gorguns breaking loose from the black tentacles and thus moving into melee range, Elmohtar realizes it's time for him to contribute some more.

He casts another spell--Summon Monster V, calling forth a Dire Lion that springs to attack those just escaping from the tentacles.

His talents hardly lie in the realm of tactics and generalship, so it isn't his place to direct the efforts of the others. In any case, his direction doesn't seem to be needed. The others are working effectively as a unit if not quite a team.

He also doesn't have any spells that would harm others; that would go against his very nature as a Keeper. Not that there aren't creatures that shouldn't be destroyed, but they usually manage to do that themselves.

Still, Radagast keeps watch over the battle. He spots Lady Isile flying over head in bird form, knowing she is doing the same.

He knows Grimfast and Orndir are more like him... healers, not harmers. If any of the gorguns make it to the fort, though, that philosophy will be sorely tested.

The kill box was getting a bit too crowded for him to repeat his previous tactic, plus his True Strike spell was used up. Instead, he decided to target the two gorguns that were converging on Tilaleria.

With the flick of a wrist, both of his hands spat out a lethal Harrow card.


23:17, Today: Jak rolled 29,32,10,12 using 1d20+19,1d20+17,1d4+9,1d4+9 ((10,15,1,3)).


First card to the gorgun on the left, second to the one on the right.

That went better than he expected.

Ack! Jury Duty. Messed me up for the whole week!


The battle rages on!

As long as Borun and Tilaleria are out in the 'kill box' dealing with the gorguns that break loose, there's not really sufficient room for the others to engage in melee, so, for the moment, they remain in the 'fort'. Not that there are many of them.

Borun only manages to hit one of the gorguns on him with his 4th attack. He can tell it's on its last legs, so to speak, but the other one that moved up is still strong.

Fortunately, Elmohtar's Dire Lion leaps on the second one. Since the gorgun moved this round, it doesn't get its full attacks.

The same is true for the two on Tilaleria.

17:49, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 31,29,20,37,20 using 1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19 ((12,10,1,18,1)). Save vs. Tilaleria, atk on Borun, atk on lion, atk on Tilaleria, atk on Tilaleria.

Tilaleria's attack hits, but the gorgun isn't staggered; it's really hard to do (they'd have to roll a 1).

Borun is hit again. So is not. The gorgun that Tilaleria hit just barely manages to hit her back!

18:05, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 17,11 using 1d8+9,1d8+9 ((8,2)). Damage.

Borun takes 17 points of damage, Tilaleria takes 11 points of damage.

Tilaleria's AoO against the second one that missed her just barely hits (because it 'fumbled').

The black tentacles will only last two more rounds.

Arithal's lightning strikes continue to hit random targets, as do Radagast's lightning strikes.

There are only 3 gorguns still trapped in the black tentacles, leaving 13 still on the other side of them. One of them decides to try the thorn bushes that are fencing them in. After taking a bit of damage from them, and not having a weapon to chop them away, he finally decides to jump over them.

Several of the other gorguns follow his example. 4 jump over the left side, 4 jump over the right side (though one doesn't quite make it and lands in the thorns before tumbling out the other side. The remaining 5, not as agile perhaps, decide to take on the black tentacles. No doubt they think their comrades up front are having all the fun!

Borun winced as the gorgun's axe bit into his flesh. Still, it would take a lot more than one axe wound to fell a graduate of the Diamond Heart Academy.

Similar to before, but I won't attempt Stunning Fist again. Their Fort saves seem to be too high.

Swift action: arcane strike
Full-round action: flurry of blows

First attack: 25
First attack damage: 17

Second attack: 30
Second attack damage: 17

Third attack: 21

Fourth attack: 28
Fourth attack damage: 16

Actually, I did know that Borun had cast Blur on Tilaleria, but just forgot to check for it. Going with the 'high is good, low is bad' rule, rolling 81-100 would mean she was missed.

07:57, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 99 using 1d100 ((99)).

Guess the gorgun's attack missed her after all... or perhaps it was just a glancing blow that did no damage.

Tilaleria's eyes opened wide with worry as the one of the Gorgun's fists came straight for her despite her every effort. There was a little breath of relief as Borun's magical protection saved her. It was time to end this fight, Tilaleria decided and she called on the lessons of her mistress to cause the light of Eärendil to shine as she moved even closer to the Gorgun, moving her body in line with it's movements making it look almost as though they were dancing together.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Sat 12 Mar 2016.

The Half-Orc hated waiting, but he wasn't really impatient. He fully understood the reason for the strategy and the tactics of the battle. He wasn't at all sure he could have fared as well as the Messenger in that sort of battle, but letting the forefront of the gorguns break against the wall of warriors meant that Garan and the others behind the fort would have to take the battle to those behind.

He wasn't sure if he was the first one to spot the gorguns that jumped the thorns, but he was mildly surprised at the effort and ability. It was the opportunity, though, that he was looking for.

He ran out from around the side of the fort and charged the gorguns on the left, activating his rage as he ran. Just before reaching the first one, though, he breathed his green dragon breath on it. Then he used his Boots of Springing and Striding to leap the last 30 feet to come down on top of it.

20:31, Today: Garan rolled 34 using 10d6 ((1,6,2,1,4,1,6,2,5,6)). Dragon breath

Breath was first move. Leaping attack was second move. Moving only allows one attack, so he's doing a berserk claw strike with Vampiric Touch!

20:47, Today: Garan rolled 28,36,6 using 1d20+22,3d6+23,1d6 ((6,6,6,1,6)). Claw attack, damage,+1d6 acid.

20:50, Today: Garan rolled 19 using 5d6 ((2,6,4,4,3)). Vampiric Touch.

More so than even Radagast, the Beorning was a creature of the land. The gorguns were an affront to nature. Even an Orc had its place in the Scheme of Things, much like vermin. The Orcs of the Dark Lord had been corrupted and twisted away from that... into something foul and vile... the antithesis of green and growing things, an enemy of Nature.

Unlike the Half-Orc, Grimfast was not keen to rush into battle. He did so when it was necessary, but it wasn't in his nature. When the gorguns came over and around the thorns, though, he was only slightly behind Garan to charge out from behind the fort. He went to the right, though, wild-shaping into his bear form as he ran.

Also unlike the Half-Orc, he not only had no way to take the battle to them so quickly, he was more prudent, and decided to wait for them to come to him.

He judged their speed again... about 40 feet (per round), and stopped at that range, stood up on his hind legs and roared out a challenge to them. It was as much a disguise for his spell-casting. He cast Greater Thunderstomp.

21:32, Today: Grimfast rolled 26 using 1d20+15 ((11)). CMB vs. trip!

Like the other warriors, Sky had been biding her time. The range was a bit longer regardless of how accurate she was, but she didn't want to waste arrows. Normal arrows, not a problem. Magical arrows, not so much.

Admittedly, she added her magic to the arrows, but that was limited, too.

Now that some of the gorguns had broken confinement, and were drawing closer, she had to laugh a bit at their foolishness. No doubt they thought the fort held 'victims' or loot. It was literally a blind, though, and instead of victims, it held death.

She would have liked to have joined in on the melee end of battle, but as long as the Istari and Arithal were dropping lightning bolts on the back of the beasts, someone needed to stay and defend them, just in case a gorgun broke through the wall of slaughter that was Tilaleria and Borun.

"Hey, Jak! I can provide fire support for the melee on the left here. Can you do the same on the right flank?" she called out to the Cardcaster.

Matching actions to her words, she let off a pair of arrows at the gorguns flanking Garan.

21:57, Today: Sky Sheer'enn rolled 35,38,16,14,21 using 1d20+23,1d20+23,1d10+10,1d10+10,4d6+2 ((12,15,6,4,6,4,6,3)). 1st arrow, 2nd arrow, damage, damage, and Scorching Ray with 1st arrow.

"I had the same thought in mind!" Jak called back to Sky. "You just said it first!"

"Yell if you are in danger of being overrun! I'll do the same here!"


With Radagast and Elmohtar still in the fort, he really didn't have any concerns about the fort being overrun, but he really wasn't sure what they could do. He couldn't even imagine Radagast being killed by the likes of these gorguns.


Fortunately, these beasts didn't have any ranged weapons, so he leaped up onto the top of the fort and flung a pair of energy-charged cards at the gorguns Grimfast was challenging.

21:36, Today: Jak rolled 36,38,10,13,12,17 using 1d20+19,1d20+19,1d4+9,1d4+9,4d6,4d6 ((17,19,1,4,3,4,1,4,6,1,4,6)). card attack, card attack, card damage, card damage, frigid touch damage, frigid touch damage.

Assuming Grimfast was more or less in the middle, he tosses one card to the left, one card to the right, imbuing them with his Frigid Touch spell. Since these are ammunition, he can imbue both at the same time. But, of course, the cards are chewed up in the process. Fortunately, he has several decks in his pockets.

Borun attacks with a flurry of blows again, but only hits with his 2nd and 4th strikes. Three of the gorguns in the black tentacles broke out, and one moved to engage Borun, who hadn't yet disposed of his other foe.


Tilaleria attacks with a flurry of blows, too. She hits with 4 of them, only her 3rd one missing. Two of these gorguns on her were the ones in the black tentacles that broke loose. Three of her attacks kill one of them, and she's able to land her 5th blow on the other one.


Garan attacks a gorgun that jumped the thorns and is trying to circle around on the left flank. His green dragon breath attack combined with his vampiric berserking rage claw strike reduces the creature to 1hp left!


Grimfast moved out on the right flank to deal with those gorguns that were attempting a flanking maneuver. However, as soon as he was in range, he cast Greater Thunderstomp, and knocked all 4 of them off their feet.


Sky's 1st arrow carrying with it her scorching ray delivers devastating damage to the outside gorgun flanking Garan, and her 2nd arrow finishes it off.


Jak's pair of card attacks both hit the gorgun on the inside of where Grimfast had tripped them. That would make the outer gorgun take a few seconds longer to reach the fort... if he made it that far.


At the end of the round...

There are 3 remaining gorguns outside the thorn barrier on the left flank.
There are 3 remaining gorguns outside the thorn barrier on the right flank, but are prone from being tripped by Grimfast's spell.
There are 2 gorguns on Borun, one of which is on his last legs.
There is only 1 gorgun left on Tilaleria.
There are 5 gorguns stuck in the black tentacles.

Just a reminder, anyone trapped in the black tentacles takes damage each round.

Those gorguns still standing now get their attack.

Gorgun #24 on Garan gets all 4 attacks because he didn't move--Garan did all the moving.

16:27, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 27,34,33,30 using 1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19 ((8,15,14,11)).

Because he's only got 1hp left, he's too weak to get all his attack bonuses, but only one of them miss.

16:32, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 10,12,13 using 1d8+9,1d8+9,1d8+9 ((1,3,4)).

Garan takes 35 points of damage from the creature's fairly feeble attacks.

Gorgun #15 is also able to attack Garan.

16:37, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 36,37,32,36 using 1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19 ((17,18,13,17)).

This one is more or less fresh, having only been hit by a lightning strike once. He manages to hit Garan with all 4 attacks.

16:40, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 12,10,16,10 using 1d8+9,1d8+9,1d8+9,1d8+9 ((3,1,7,1)). That's gonna hurt!

Garan's down to 112hp.


Grimfast doesn't get attacked because the gorguns on  his side are all prone.


Borun has two gorguns on him, but one moved this round so only gets one attack. The other one is weak, though.

16:53, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 38,25,21,23 using 1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19,1d20+19 ((19,6,2,4)). About right.

Borun gets hit only once.

16:56, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 12 using 1d8+9 ((3)). Again, about right.

Borun takes 12 points of damage.

16:58, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 26,16 using 1d20+19,1d8+9 ((7,7)).

That's a miss.

And the gorgun on Tilaleria, having moved this round, only gets 1 attack.

17:00, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 27,17 using 1d20+19,1d8+9 ((8,8)).

And that's a miss, giving her an attack of opportunity on him. She easily hits him.

As sometimes happened in a fight, Tilaleria had plenty of time to reflect. Her opponent was very dangerous. Very dangerous indeed. But brutish, and she had trained for centuries to deal with things like this, and that gave her the luxury of being able to take in the battle field

So ... nothing catastrophically had happened, but it wasn't going well. She'd rather hoped that the wizards would crush these creatures under their spells and alchemical concoctions but that hadn't happened. She could see over a dozen left without taking any effort at all. The tentacles were doing a marvelous job, but they were only going to hold the Gorgun's for a few more seconds...a minute at the most. So she and the others had to deal with the active ones.

"You break right, I'll get the ones to the left" she shouted to Borun and followed her words with actions. At the moment she was only keeping one dealt with. She suspected the blood rage of the one she'd hit a couple of times, would keep it focused just on her as she leapt away, leaping over the wall of thorns as though it wasn't there, casting a minor spell as she did, before landing in front of the three on the left

OOC
Move action: Move to the three Gorgun's at the left
Standard action: Cast Frostbite

Borun nodded at Tilaleria's recommendation. He focused his blows on the gorguns to the right.

Swift action: arcane strike
Full-round action: flurry of blows

First attack: natural 20!
Critical confirmation: 31
Normal damage: 19
Extra critical damage (if the attack was a successful critical): 15

Second attack: 22

Third attack: 21

Fourth attack: 28
Fourth attack damage: 14

Current hp: 105 of 134