In reply to The Seer (msg # 153):

Seeing Myrrick fall profoundly deflates the feeling of elation that Bruno felt with the fall of the sleeping or killed hobgoblins at the beginning of the round.

Seeing the big one that is probably their chieftain Bruno presents the shield of Moradin firmly as he points his sword and shouts at him in Goblin, "SURRENDER!"

OOC: I'm uncertain where the Hobgoblins are in the Init order and whether or not this one is more than 6HD, but here goes nothing! Casting Command on the bigger, badder one.

Myrrick lay motionless on the floor, coughing and bleeding, clinging to life somehow... not yet ready to pass on.

OOC help me? :)

Zan will rush to the aid of Myrrick. Binding wounds. "Hold on friend. We've still more to do"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

Hearing the horns blowing, Gilman lets out an eleven curse and prepares to fire at any approaching enemy.

OOC: I want to shoot at any enemy that threatens, but can I delay to see what Bruno’s command does? If the hobgoblins surrender I don’t want to mess with that.

PM:
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So here's party initiative order:
Zan: 10
Gildan: 9
Bruno: 7
Myrrick: 6
Kullonar, Bruknar & Uthecar: 5

Zan rushes forward and crouches next to Myrrick's fallen body in effort to help.
Gildan holds action for a moment, his keen eyes searching down the corridor for approaching enemies!
Bruno shouts: Surrender! Nothing seems to happen.
Myrrick is bleeding out (-2HP)

Hobbler tough1: As Bruno shout's 'surrender!' the Hobgoblin veteran takes a massive swing with his long sword, but it bounces off the doughty dwarf's shield with a resounding clang.
Hobbler tough2: As Kullonar comes rushing forward, the other Hobbler vet takes a swing with his long sword and Hits: (-5 HP damage).

For his part, The Cudgel's servant strikes back with a massive blow from his morning star (-5 dmg to Hob vet 2). Kullonar's rage shines bright and ugly in his eyes!

Bruknar and Uthecar stand back to back now: both attack the big chief: Bruknar shouts an ancient curse at the chief and though his first effort is pathetic, sending his throwing axe skittering across the floor, the second strike is on target(6 points of damage to big chief). Bruknar's brother dwarf, Uthecar follows up by swinging the massive and ugly battle axe, a weapon only a dwarf could call lovely, and smashes the big chief for double damage! (A critical hit to the chief: 8 points of damage!).

The chief, now down a total of 14 points of damage, disengages, shouting over his shoulder some goblinish nonsense as he flees toward the throne.

The lone hobgoblin regular, finding himself in a flanking position, aims a blow toward Bruknar: 7 points of damage to the tough hill dwarf.

Gildan has a move to make, then Round 2 will end and Round 3 will begin:

Down the hall, you hear horns blaring!
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:19, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

Kullonar swings his morningstar again, but the sword wound burns and the hobgoblin easily blocks his attack.
20:30, Today: Kullonar rolled 10,3 using 1d20+1,2d4+1.  Morningstar attack.

Gildan fires two more arrows at the approaching hobgoblins, but his grim features are replaced by a calm smile. Knowing as he does that he is not destined to die at the hands of hobgoblins, his fear leaves him.

OOC: 19:07, Yesterday: Gildan Stalker rolled 8 using 1d6+2.  Bow damage 2.
19:06, Yesterday: Gildan Stalker rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  Bow damage 1.
19:06, Yesterday: Gildan Stalker rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  Bow attack 2.
19:06, Yesterday: Gildan Stalker rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Bow attack 1.

His frustration at the failure of his ploy lasts only as long as the hobgoblin's longsword smashing into his shield.

Accordingly, Bruno pushes forward behind his shield and thrusts his short sword into the big creature.

PM:
----------------------------------
Party Initiative:
Zan: 10
Gildan: 9
Bruno: 7
Myrrick: 6
Kullonar, Bruknar & Uthecar: 5

After trying for a moment to assist his elfish comrade, Zan determines that others more qualified can handle healing chores. Looking up from Myrrick's prone body, he aims his wand at the nearest of the two brutes and looses two missiles: the bolts plunge through armor and small clothes, leaving a searing wound in its side. The beast howls some goblinish curse after taking 7 points damage!

On the heels of Zan's magic missles, Gildan stands strong and true, aiming two arrows toward the charging squad of Hobgoblins. The first one hits one of the approaching goblins (5pts dmg), but Gildan elevates the bow just a bit and the second arrow deflects off one of the columns.

As the big chief disengages and makes to flee, Bruno rushes forward and attacks from a flanking position: his strike is perfectly positioned and outside of the massive hobgoblin's line of sight. The Hobgoblin leader falls to the ground with a resounding thud, the spear falling to clatter on the floor beside him. ([Private to Bruno Rhunthane: A death strike - the leader is completely dead]).

For some reason, the attacking goblins slow their advance; even the two brutes and the lone regular seem to deflate with the fall of their leader despite superior numbers. Still, the fight roars on: The two brutes counter the blows issued by the party and attack Bruno with savage rage: The first is so enraged that he swings wildly and misses Bruno completely. The blade smashes to the floor, destroying decades old tiles, and the blade shears halfway down the blade. The brute tosses aside the sword, but pulls a dagger from his belt and makes ready to fight on. The second brute's attack is a bit better, but Bruno's shield wards him from harm.

Wounded, Bruknar's first attack misses wildly, but his second strike cleaves through the second brute's armor for 6 points of damage. The beastie, dagger in hand, falls to the floor, blood pouring from the vicious wound (bleeding out).

Uthecar takes heart from his dwarven comrade's courage, smashes his battle axe into his foe's side for 6 pts damage - the brute howls in rage and pain!

The singular hobgoblin regular looks briefly over his shoulder and takes heart as the approaching squad draws near. Seeing the damage done to the fallen brute, he stands back to back with the other in hope of surviving long enough for the other squad to arrive and swings at Bruknar - his swing is true - this hobgoblin is truly a doughty warrior of his race! Bruknar falls! 8 pts damage - bleeding out!

Round three ends, Round four begins: Myrrick is down to -4 HP, Bruknar, -1 HP; Big Chief Hobgoblin is dead, dead, dead. Brute two has fallen, his blood running out. Brute one and the Hobgoblin regular stand back to back as squad two approaches; the sergeant of that squad squats and picks up the leader's spear.

Zan wonders briefly when the sleeping hobgoblins are going to wake up.

On that happy thought, Round Four, gentlefolk!
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:30, Sun 01 Sept 2019.

Bruno is somewhat relieved to see the hobgobbers pause when their chieftain falls, but the drums and oncoming sounds keep him honest particularly when he notes that another of his party has fallen. Ignoring the oncoming he moves to Brucknar's side to confirm the warrior's condition preparing to cast the spell that in his mind he has come to call, The Tickle of the Soul Forger's Beard.

OOC: If Brucknar is beyond the help of Cure Light Wounds (the description suggests the poor fellow may be) I'll move to Myrrick and cast this spell upon him instead.

Zan will get out an arrow and start poking the pinpointed end through the throats of the sleeping ones. "Myrrick is in need of immediate help, I couldn't stop the bleeding"

OOC:  was Zan not able to bind any of Myrrick wounds to stop further bleeding out?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Wed 04 Sept 2019.

OOC: Is the map updated to reflect everyone's position?
If possible, Kullonar can use a bit of divine grace to save someone from bleeding out. If not, he will rush forward and attack.

Seeing the new arrivals, Kullonar rushes forward and attacks, calling on..."CUTHBERT!"
15:36, Today: Kullonar rolled 19,3 using 1d20+1,2d4+1.  Morningstar attack.

In reply to Kullonar (msg # 166):

OOC: Since my reading of your post before this one (#166) I presumed that you are nearest to Myrrick, which is why I opted to heal Bruknar.

Seer, as I noted in my post, I'm less concerned about NPCs than PCs, so if I'm totally misreading things and I AM closest to Myrrick, I'll use my CLW on him instead.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:43, Thu 05 Sept 2019.

Battle Map: Caution - please use the notes in this post, not my notes on the map itself.

Scale: 2.5' per square - you can see the area is now fairly condensed into a small area...action is fast and furious, very bloody, which lends to slippery conditions on the floor (cut movement rate by 25% or risk slipping).

One Brute and one hobgoblin regular still stand. Hobgoblin squad coming at a fast walk, will arrive at the end of this round.

Key:
Red = Hobgoblins
Red Dot are incapacitated (sleep spell)
Red X = Dead/Dying
Red B = Brute
Red BX = Dead/Dying Brute
Red H = Living Hobgoblin Regular

Blue = Party
Z = Zan
G = Gildan
B = Bruno
K = Kullonar
M = Myrrick - Dying
U = Uthecar
BK = Bruknar - Dying


This message was last edited by the GM at 12:45, Fri 06 Sept 2019.

In reply to The Seer (msg # 168):

OOC: Thanks for this clarification, Seer. Permit me to clarify Bruno's actions this round and replace my previous post with this one. We have at least 1 healing potion from the chest that Kullonar checked, but it's a bit unclear to me who has it, though I know that I do not. In msg #96 Kullonar says he'll hand them out to Myrrick and Uthecar and offered them to the rest of us, but neither respond (Guilden turned down the offer) and by the time the Identify spell is cast we started moving to the beginning of this scene.

Bruno moves to Myrrick and casts Cure Light Wounds. If Myrrick does not have the Healing potion he will cast an additional CLW next round as well.

Kullonar has all of the potions...since no one took him up on his offer. He will attack the Hobgoblin near the pillar (see my previous post for rolls) and then hope to help Bruknar if he can reach him. Damn boys, we're in a tight spot!

Gildan! Hole 'em off if you can!"

Without hesitating or responding to Kullonar, the elf will fire two arrows at the brute in front, hoping those are enough to take him down and terrify the others.

OOC:
15:49, Today: Gildan Stalker rolled 4 using 1d6+2.  Damage 2.
15:49, Today: Gildan Stalker rolled 3 using 1d6+2.  Damage 1.
15:48, Today: Gildan Stalker rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Bow attack 2.
15:48, Today: Gildan Stalker rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Bow attack 1.

PM:
----------------------------------
Party Initiative:
Zan: 10
Gildan: 9
Bruno: 7
Myrrick: 6
Kullonar, Bruknar & Uthecar: 5

The battle joined in earnest now:
Zan, concerned about the sleeping Hobgoblins, lays the coup de grace on the first sleeper he comes to: Dead. .

Gildan fires a couple more arrows at the approaching squad: The first arrow tracks on the hobgoblin wounded the prior round & that foe falls. The second arrow does four points damage to the next in line. Seeing one of his regulars fall, the Brute pushes the squad to speed.

Bruno bends down to adminster healing to Myrrick. The ranger's eyes flutter open, but he is helpless right now as he pulls back from the veil of death.


The remaining Sergeant knows he's in a fight for his life, so swings with all his might, taking a bite out of Uthecar's arem (2dmg)

Uthecar follows his wound with an ancient battle cry and swings his mighty axe! The Brute staggers under the blow, but remains standing, though blood pours from his wound.

Kullonar aims a blow at the Hobgoblin regular and scores a solid hit (3dmg). The courageous regular hangs wobbles but remains standing and counters Kullonar's blow with a wild swing of his sword. Unfortunately for him, doubt and pain rule the round.

The squad has arrived: I will integrate them into the next round's actions.

Welcome to the Jungle, baby! You're gonna die! (Hat tip to GNR)

In reply to The Seer (msg # 172):

OOC: Ugh. GnR. You could've gone with a more poetic Johnny Cash,

You're falling into a burnin' ring of fire
You're going down, down, down
And the flames are going higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire

But you didn't, Storteller. YOUKIDS! GETOFFAMYLAWN!!!!!

Impotent character rant aside, might we know the Hobber's Initiative?

Bruno seeing that Myrrick is at least stabilized by his first spell calls upon the Soul Forger to get the  ranger back on his feet as he does so he mutters with a wry grin, "You'll not forget the gentle hands a dwarf after this day, my friend."

14:11, Today: Kullonar rolled 8,5 using 1d20+1,2d4+1.  Morningstar attack.

Confident in his ability, Kullonar attacks again, hoping to finish his foe so he can help his companions. But the Hob avoids the crushing morningstar to live another minute or so.

Zan continues to work on killing the sleeping and dying goblins.

Softly singing an ancient elven tune, Gildan fires two more arrows, focusing on the injured hobgoblin first before taking out any others.

"There be the ditch that you shall die in
Here be the wall that I shall cry on
Ditch dug with antler and ox bone shovel
This rising wall that shades our ancient hovel
"

OOC:
10:27, Today: Gildan Stalker rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  Damage 2.
10:26, Today: Gildan Stalker rolled 4 using 1d6+2.  Damage 1.
10:26, Today: Gildan Stalker rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Bow attack 2.
10:26, Today: Gildan Stalker rolled 16 using 1d20+7.  Bow attack 1.

Round 5 begins:

Zan administers the death blow for a second hobgoblin. His effort is workmanlike, though he can't hold back a grim smile for the fates of his ancient enemy.

Gildan looses two more arrows. One finishes the wounded hobbler in the first rank of regulars (-5) - his fellows continue the quick march toward the battle by stepping over their dead comrade. Gilden's second also strikes true - the brute leading the force growls in pain and anger as he takes 4 pts of damage.

Bruno casts healing on Myrrick. The elf blinks his eyes as the veil of death fades, notes Bruno crouching over him with a grin: "You'll not forget the gentle hands a dwarf after this day, my friend."

Enraged by the strike, the sergeant/leader of the coming platoon rushes forward and grabs the fallen spear of the dead leader. In one smooth motion, he flings it in a rage at Gildan, but the spear flies wide!

Badly wounded, the last of the Original Brutes stands back to back with the Hobbler regular, and gives a game swing at Uthecar - the furious dwarf screams in rage at the hurt he takes (5pts dmg).

Kullonar, fresh off a solid strike with his morning star, swings again, but the Hobbler ducks out of the way at the last minute (miss).

Uthecar also misses, the axe slipping a bit in his grip.

And last, but not least, that lone hobgoblin regular tries to get one more lick in: In effort to protect Myrrick, Bruno takes the brunt of the blow upon his shield for no damage.

And now, the seven remaining hobgoblin reinforcements arrive, and all hell breaks loose!

Round, the sixth, forthcoming. On your initiatives, gentlefolk!
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:31, Fri 13 Sept 2019.

00:03, Today: Bruno Rhunthane rolled 12 using 1d6+7.  Short Sword Damage.

00:02, Today: Bruno Rhunthane rolled 14 using 1d20+6.  Short Sword Attack.

Having blocked the Hobber's attack as he finishes his healing spell Bruno grunts frustratedly and spins thrusting his blade at his and Myrrick's attacker, "You're mucking about with my bedside manner, curse ya, and there's only one cure for that!"

"Great mother of pearl, they breed to fast"