From Gorna, the City of Colors, the journey into the foothills of the Barrier Peaks requires three days. The mountains live up to their namesake, their jagged, ice shrouded heights forming what appears to be an impassible wall, rather than a collection of summits. Although some hardy plants thrive in the hard soil at the base of the enormous ridge, they are few and far between. Even those within the company that are accustomed to traveling in such country recognize that it requires a group of very determined souls to create a life in such a forbidding area.

A road, traveled enough to have cut a winding groove through the foothills, leads the adventurers into the northwest, the cold of the mountains tightening its grip on each of the champions as they venture higher. Toward noon on the third day of the trek, the company comes in range of Baron Domnall's stronghold. Their ears are aware of the stout community before their eyes sight the Baron's tower, and the rough stone walls that encircle it. Above the soft moan of the wind sweeping down from the Barrier Peaks, the din of battle can be heard. Shouted commands, the clanging of steel, screams of the injured, and loud crashes, the noise of destruction, cut through the misty air.

Rounding a bend in the road, the adventurers see the tall entrance gate to Domnall's stronghold, which has been caved in, the iron of the portcullis a twisted ruin. From within the walls, the sounds of battle intensify.

Azad tightens his grip on his staff and looks up at the riven gates. "I knew our arrival wasn't going to be greeted with strewn flowers and trumpets, but this is far worse than I anticipated. We must hurry and lend aid where we can!" He flicks the horses' reins, urging them to pull the wagon a bit faster.

"I couldn't agree more," came Salenth's urgent reply as she gave Azad a nod of agreement. Tightening her grip on the sides of the wagon, Salenth felt the wind rushing against her ears as Azad urged the horses to go faster. Her own heart beat in rhythm with the horses steady gallop towards the Baron's stronghold and to calm herself, she whispered a prayer to St. Cuthbert to grant the defenders of the stronghold strength to hang on and fight.

As they approach the gate, Herodian positions himself near the center of the group.

"Lumwik," he calls to the dwarf. "How'd you like to make a big impression on whatever caved that gate in?"

Lumwik trots his pony up next to Herodian.  "Aye.  Even if it means I havta get meself a bigger pony."

"Whatever we're doing, we need to do it quickly." Ella kicks her horse to the front of the group, galloping ahead of the wagon and drawing her sword.

Cal spurs his horse into a gallop along with the others and draws his sword as he approaches the gate. He's clearly intent on being one of the first ones into whatever fray is happening inside the keep. "Keep an eye on our flank and rear in case whoever attacked has reinforcements." he cautions the group on the wagon.

"Stash the wagons and supplies to the side. We must make haste towards the gates and aid in the battle." Ranzarth states as he nimbly jumps off his steed and ties it to a near by tree. He draws his sword and begins to move forward.

Azad nods, and puts both hands on the reins to steer the wagon to the side. "Get up there! I'll catch up!"

Wandreck draws his sword and gladly watches the rear as he keeps a steady hand on the reins.  Somebody had to survive this, and he figured it might as well be him.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Mon 05 Aug 2019.

Horses were never his forte and as such his gallop had less force.  Muttering to himself about bad omens, he bears down and attempts to keep with the group as best he could.  With no visible signs of wheel marks, he doubted a siege device had been used.  Given their altitude, he expected something big.

Venturing to the destroyed gate, the party sees chaos in the street beyond the walls.

Several homes and craftsman’s shops line the avenue just inside the walls’ protection. A few paces east of the opening, the adventurers can see an enormous hole in the ground, soil thrown violently from its sides in every direction; clearly the point where a huge, burrowing beast emerged from beneath the earth.

The company does not need to search to find the brute. A short distance west of the gate, a number of uniformed soldiers are locked in battle with the massive creature. It stands roughly the height of a war horse, but is easily three times as wide. Most of its body is covered in thick, armor like scales that are blue gray in color, and each of its thick legs end in three toed feet that bear long, curving talons. A beak like maw is filled with jagged teeth. The shafts of two spears jut from the monster’s back.



Four dead soldiers lie in the dust nearby, each one crushed or bearing terrible, gaping wounds. The monster lets out an enraged roar. A dark haired, bearded man in ornate plate armor urges the soldiers to press their attack as he slashes at the creature with his sword. ”Do not yield! Keep fighting! We are all that lay between it and the innocents!”

OOC: The creature’s attention is currently fixed on the soldiers that are engaging it, so the party has the opportunity to act before initiative is determined. The areas of the monster that carry its natural armor provide it an AC of -2.

Lumwik strides forward, trying to draw the beasts attention. he swings his axe with brutal efficiency.


ooc:
23:06, Today: Lumwik rolled 24,10,25,7 using 1d20+5,1d8+5,1d20+5,1d8+5.

Hits AC -2 for 10 (+6 for Enlarge/strength)
Hits AC -2 for 7 (Natural 20) (+6 for Enlarge/strength)
Plus whatever bonuses for being large.



edit: added STR bonus to damage
This message was last edited by the player at 12:20, Wed 07 Aug 2019.

Wandreck dismounts and then rushes around the creature, preparing to backstab it while it’s distracted.

01:50, Today: Wandreck rolled 13 using 1d12+3.  Dam.  (52 pts if I can backstab)
01:50, Today: Wandreck rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  To hit w/longsword.  (Not including +4 backstab bonus)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:51, Wed 07 Aug 2019.

As Lumwik moves to engage the creature, Herodian traces a sigil in the air in front of him. He completes the gesture and says "Gedeng Ente!"

Lumwik begins to grow larger with each step he takes. By the time he makes another attack he will have nearly tripled in size.

---

OOC: His size and weight are increased by 180% and his strength is increased to 19 for 9 turns.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 12):

Ranz approached the creature with nimble steps moving towards what looked to be a vital spot, he stabbed forward with his shortsword, but the beasts armoured hide deflected the blow harmlessly.


OOC:
23:48, Today: Ranzarth rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Attack with Short Sword, add +4 if considered rear attack.

Ella vaults out of the saddle and charges the rear of the massive creature, pulling out her sword as she runs. If nothing else, maybe their arrival will take the creature's attention away from the guardsmen. "Ignis!" With a word, the weapon bursts into flames, leaving a trail of fire behind as it moves. On her approach, she drops low, cutting and slashing at what she hopes is the less-armored underbelly of the creature as much as she can.

08:34, Today: Ella rolled 18,11,12,10 using 1d20+5,1d12+5,1d20+5,1d12+5 ((13,6,7,5)).
Hits AC -5 for 11
Hits AC  1 for 10