Matthias gestures to Vala, indicating the pair should remain unseen and unheard until they get a better look at the incoming humanoids. As best as he is able, he remains still and within the shadows. He has mace and shield ready for employment, if it becomes necessary.

OOC: I guess the goal is to allow the humanoids to turn the corner and head toward the library and then come up behind them for a surprise attack, in the event they appear to be hostile toward our companions.

Unaware of what is transpiring outside the library, Tanyl continues attending to his task.

Delta cleans up a bit and finds most of the books seem to be in languages she can read.  Typical things that you'd find in a library of the learned, literature, studies, history, more history with a focus on women than she's used to seeing.  Tanyl can't find a secret door, but there is something not right about the room, his instincts are honing in on something when he hears footsteps coming down the corridor, and not ones he recognizes.

Vala and Matthias stand very still at the entrance, holding their breathes, when one by one the creatures turn down the narrow corridor towards the library.  For just a moment, they cross a patch of light....bugbears!

Assuming Delta also hears the approaching footsteps, Delta will step behind a chair in such a way as to hide herself a bit from anyone coming in thru the doorway.

Tanyl draws his sword and dagger and positions himself where he can (hopefully) surprise someone from behind if they should enter.

The first two bugbears lumber into the library, looking around and sniffing the air, the third has yet to enter but they will spot Delta or Tanyl soon, you have a moment to act before they do.

ooc: you have surprise, for the moment

Map has been updated

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:11, Wed 21 Apr 2021.

With the hand hidden behind the chair, Delta swirls her hand in a circle...

"Now guys!"

Popping up from behind the desk are three stoutly armored men with heavy crossbows, pointed right at the bugbears. The tips of the bolts glisten as if tipped in poison, green and nasty.

"Drop your weapons!" Delta calls out...

Matthias gestures to Vala and then rushes forth from the shadows, mace drawn, to intercept the trailing bugbear. His heart is pounding so hard he does not even hear Delta call out her warning. The cleric swings his mace as hard as he can and connects with the back of the bugbear's head. The sound is something akin to a piece of wood snapping in two. Quite a heavy blow indeed!

"Delta! Tanyl! Heads up! Bugbears coming your way!" he shouts, once he has given up his position.

OOC: Crit hit on a surprise attack! Ignore damage roll. Max damage = 8


18:28, Today: Matthias rolled 21,5 using d20+1,d6+2 with rolls of 20,3.  Attack vs Bugbear.

LOL!!!

Tanyl springs out and strikes an accurate, but wimpy blow with this sword.


19:52, Today: Tanyl Miaras rolled 20,1 using d20+5,d12.  sword.

(Doubled, so it's 2 -- hence my laughter.)

He swings his left hand around almost simultaneously, burying the dagger in the bugbear's back (maybe).


19:53, Today: Tanyl Miaras rolled 14,3 using d20-2,d3.  dagger.

6 if it hits.

Vala follows Matthias, her hand and a half sword carving through the air - and hopefully through the bugbear! The tall woman's first strike goes wide in her enthusiasm but her second shows more promise.

---

OOC:
11:39, Today: Vala rolled 12 using 2d8+3.  Damage.

01:16, Today: Vala rolled 17 using 1d20+1.  Attack with the Starblade #2.

01:16, Today: Vala rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Attack with the Starblade #1.

Delta cast a minor illusion that seems to draw the attention of the first of the two bugbears that enter the room.  It looks puzzled for a moment, as the second one enters it too looks over the strange appearance of three armed me.  Just then, with total surprise, Tanyl stabs one of them in the back, sadly the wound is not deep. With the attack, they seem to shake off the illusion.

Even then, you hear Matthias call out a warning as he smashes the third bugbear over the head, making is dizzy, and though the passage is narrow, Vala reaches forward with her sword and impales the dizzy bugbear, the two hits combining to kill it in its tracks.

The other two raise their spiked clubs and attack, saying  "Eh, that's not very nice!".

The injured bugbear misses Tanyl but the other one moves forward and hits a glancing blow off of Delta's armor (3hps damage).



Bugbears:  AC: 5   HP's   dead/x   -2/x   /x

PC       Class        Level    HP     AC   THAC6

Vala     Fighter         2     16     2      14
Tanyl    Mage/Theif     1/2    9      4      15
Delta    Fghtr/Illnst   2/1    13/11  2      14
Matthias Cleric          2     17     6      14   

"Ouch!"

Delta stabbed at the Bugbear with her sword, but misses miserably.

11:52, Today: Delta rolled 8 using 1d20 ((8)).

Matthias steps over the bugbear he and Vala just overcame and rushes down the corridor toward the enemy engaged with Delta. Unfortunately, the cleric is unable to effectively wield his mace in these tight confines.


11:45, Today: Matthias rolled 7,3 using d20+1,d6+2.  attack.

Tanyl slashes at the bugbear's giant frame, cutting a serious diagonal gash down its chest.  For good measure, he follows up by thrusting his dagger at the creature.

13:12, Today: Tanyl Miaras rolled 21,11 using d20+1,d12.  Attack (sword).
(Natural 20, so 12 damage)

13:12, Today: Tanyl Miaras rolled 13,2 using d20-2,d3.  Attack (Dagger).



OOC: Also, just want to make sure -- last round, did my dagger miss?

Delta, Vala, and Matthias all attack but cannot damage the large bugbears.  Tanyl however delivers a mighty blow, and is surprised the creature does not fall.   The bugbear swings back but Tanyl's hit throws off its aim.  The other bugbear swings and hits Vala, leaving a deep bruise. (5hps damage)





Bugbears:  AC: 5   HP's   dead/x   -14/x   /x

PC       Class        Level    HP     AC   THAC6

Vala     Fighter         2     16/11  2      14
Tanyl    Mage/Theif     1/2    9      4      15
Delta    Fghtr/Illnst   2/1    13/11  2      14
Matthias Cleric          2     17     6      14   

In reply to DM Bard (msg # 79):

Delta tries some fancy footwork, which aids in her aim apparently, as she delivers a minor blow. She can only hope it also helps hinder her foe's.



12:45, Today: Delta rolled 2 using 1d6.  damage, sword.

12:45, Today: Delta rolled 17 using 1d20.  swing short sword.

Perhaps fueled by the fear of what will happen if the bugbear's meaty paws make contact with him, Tanyl furiously stabs his sword into the creature's neck.

He tries to poke the bugbear in the stomach with his dagger, but can't quite pull it off.




18:29, Today: Tanyl Miaras rolled 21,4 using d20+1,d12.  sword (16 to hit).

Natural 20, so 12!



18:31, Today: Tanyl Miaras rolled 9,3 using d20-2,d3.  Dagger (16 to hit).

The final bugbear had been a bit more stubborn to take down than its compatriots. Matthias readjusts his grip and swings for the monster's kneecaps, taking advantage of Tanyl's two handed attack and the bugbear's subsequent unsuccessful attempt at parrying the high attack.

OOC: Hit for 6 points of damage


08:36, Today: Matthias rolled 15,6 using d20+1,d6+2 ((14,4)).

Delta and Tanyl both stab and slash the injured bugbear in front of them, cutting it down dead.  Vala and Matthias both land blows on their bugbear, staggering it but it responds with a rather feeble glancing blow off Tanyl (1hp).

Things look decidedly in favor of the adventurers!



Bugbears:  AC: 5   HP's   dead/x   dead/x   -15/x

PC       Class        Level    HP     AC   THAC6

Vala     Fighter         2     16/11  2      14
Tanyl    Mage/Theif     1/2    9/8    4      15
Delta    Fghtr/Illnst   2/1    13/11  2      14
Matthias Cleric          2     17     6      14   

Uncertain if it was wise to try and question their foe, or even if such a thing were possible, Delta opts to slash ahead, so to speak, and attempt to aid the others in finishing the beastie off.

With so many foes for the bugbear to deal with, Delta finds success she credits to not being seen, and thrusts into the meaty creatures flesh!

15:17, Today: Delta rolled 3 using 1d6.  damage.

15:17, Today: Delta rolled 19 using 1d20.  swing short sword.

Delta's last hit was just too much for the already injured bugbear, and it collapses to the ground.  The battle has ended.

Bloody blade in hand, Deltas stands over the body, stunned. She hadn't really considered herself more than a distraction on the battlefield. Heck, her last distraction hadn't even seemed to have slowed the enemy down a bit.

Staring at her blade, her mind raced, as she re-evaluated her place in things, but there was simply too much to consider right now. Such thoughts would have to wait until (if) they got home to StormHaven.

"Anyone think searching these is worthwhile?"

"You can if you want; we aren't done here.  Something about this room . . . it's not quite right.  I was on the verge of figuring it out when our visitors arrived . . . "

Tanyl's voice trails off as he returns to his "pre-bugbear" task.  He was so close before . . .

"Should you two return to your guard post, it seemed to work well this time. You were awesome striking them by surprise just then."

She wipes off her sword on bugbear hide, and sheaths it.

"or do you want to wait with us? Vala, could you... ugh, help me... (grunt) here?"

Delta struggles to move the bodies out of the doorway.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 05:49, Wed 28 Apr 2021.

"A quick search perhaps," Matthias says. "But, we need to find out what happened to the sisters," he adds with a tone of immediacy and deep concern.

The young cleric then looks back to where he and Vala had taken up position as rear guard and nods in agreement with Delta's suggestion. "Please. Let's be quick about this."

Matthias will return to the shadows near the entrance, assuming Tanyl does not suddenly discover something to keep Matthias' attention rooted to the library.