|
Post by doctorx on Jun 6, 2011 10:28:01 GMT -6
If the Dwarves can get clear before the Trolls close, Lómëluin will fire the instant they run past him, yelling to Elindir to do the same. If the lead Troll is the one with two arrows already sticking in him he will try and send a shaft straight into its ugly face. Otherwise he'll aim to try and slow the leader up, (foot, kneecap or similar). He'll then make a break for it, trying to keep himself between the Trolls and the rest of the party, peppering them with arrows where he can, but primarily concentrating on avoiding their grasping paws.
Should it look like the Trolls are going to win the race however, he'll fall back at once. The dwarves stand more chance in melee with these monsters and he knows it.
|
|
|
Post by waysoftheearth on Jun 6, 2011 20:16:00 GMT -6
The Trolls move at the same pace as the Dwarves, but Elves are just as good to eat when they can be got. It seems incredibly unlikely that the Trolls will simply "run past" -- more likely they will go for any target they can reach.
|
|
|
Post by doctorx on Jun 7, 2011 4:41:38 GMT -6
The Trolls move at the same pace as the Dwarves, but Elves are just as good to eat when they can be got. It seems incredibly unlikely that the Trolls will simply "run past" -- more likely they will go for any target they can reach. I understand that. I guess what I'm trying to say is if the Dwarves can get past us ahead of the Trolls, Lómëluin takes his shot, then runs for it. If otherwise, (e.g: he's got a dirty great troll coming right at him with thoughts of Elf jelly in its tiny brain), he falls back immediately, although ready to fire should a clear shot present itself. I guess it all depends on who does what and when in the upcoming round...
|
|
|
Post by waysoftheearth on Jun 7, 2011 6:07:03 GMT -6
Legandir dashes down the stair ahead of the company, treating carefully as he can with the darkness closing all about him. Behind, Sili and Norin turn again from the melee and make haste toward the West Gate with the Trolls hollering and howling at their backs, crushing stone with their flailing fists and heavy feet!
Lomeluin and Elindir hold as long as they possibly dare with bows bent to the fullest tension they will bear. But with the Dwarves and Trolls bearing down on them as one great gaggle that threatens to sweep all away as they pass, the Elves breath a curse and flee before them all.
As they run the lead Troll, enraged by several injuries, swipes at [1-3 Sili, 4-6 Norin; 1d6=1] Sili with a heavy fist [1d20=14] catching him in the flank and slamming him into the wall for [4dd=6,1,4,3] 8 hit points so that he tumbles down a few steps before miraculously regaining his feet and continuing to run!
Ahead, Legandir sees a square of daylight that must be Hollin Gate -- there are several figures there, coming toward him!
---
Sili: (Dwarf F4, AC1/4, HD 4+5, hp 12/20, Load 14/15).
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2011 6:38:24 GMT -6
Legandir squints into the light to try to make out if the approaching forms are friend or foe.
|
|
|
Post by ehiker133 on Jun 7, 2011 7:34:38 GMT -6
Norin shouts, "Come on, Sili! We're almost there!"
He continues running as fast as he can down the stairs.
|
|
|
Post by Mushgnome on Jun 7, 2011 8:55:30 GMT -6
Sili brushes himself off and continues running down the stairs. "Ha! They think they are hunting US... the fools!" he remarks to Norin in the Dwarfish tongue.
|
|
|
Post by doctorx on Jun 7, 2011 12:44:30 GMT -6
Lómëluin continues to run, darting glances over his shoulder, still searching for that elusive clear shot...
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Jun 7, 2011 12:49:57 GMT -6
Soval holds up the lantern and peers at the onrushing group...
If he recognizes them, he shouts: "Elves and dwarves! We are your fellows! Men, back - let them through!" Soval will keep his lantern and sword out, and hold his position until all have passed through, then cautiously move backwards until out, defending himsself as he retreats, etc.
If he does not, he calls out for the axes, and Berangar and Grim will produce pole axes to try to hold the tunnel. Still they are expecting their friends to be first out (Soval was worried about this in an earlier post), so hopefully no-one will actually run into a pole axe what with the lantern up and elvish and dwarvish sight on the other end.
(OOC: Glad to see the retreat seems to be working after all!)
|
|
|
Post by doctorx on Jun 7, 2011 13:06:32 GMT -6
(OOC: Glad to see the retreat seems to be working after all!) YOU'RE glad..!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2011 15:55:35 GMT -6
"Friends", says Legandir as he arrives nimbly at the group of waiting men, "you are most welcome". "We came accross some trolls, and they pursue us now", he adds, shouldering his bow and drawing an intricately inscribed sword. "Stand ready", he finishes, brandishing the blade and turning to face the oncoming doom.
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Jun 7, 2011 16:48:06 GMT -6
Soval and Legandir will make a stand, letting the retreating scouting party members rush by us and then (if Legandir is amenable) staging a fighting retreat back to Hollin's gate - where, if the trolls pursue us, we hope to flank them from all sides and/or watch them turn to stone in the sunlight!
|
|
|
Post by waysoftheearth on Jun 7, 2011 16:49:05 GMT -6
The crazy retreat continues around the long, wide curve of the stair as fast as the Dwarfs' legs will carry them!
Legandir is far enough ahead (some 30 or 40 yards) of the pursuit to hail Soval and his company of fighting Men (who are another 30 yards down the stair), and they hastily prepare a defense 20 yards inside the West Gate.
Meanwhile, the rabid Trolls reach and claw at the backs of the Dwarves as they flee [1-3 Sili, 4-6 Norin; 1d6=5] and now Norin is in peril after delaying half a moment to help Sili back onto his feet after his fall, [1d20=5] but he is nimble enough to evade the blow as he runs.
Lomeluin and Elindir are ahead of the Dwarves, and now Lomeluin sees the Trolls run in a single, ragged file beyond his allies, and he lets fly over their heads at the enemy further up the stair [1d20=2] but alas, he missteps upon a broken Orc skeleton on the stair and his shot goes wayward. His arrow deflects harmlessly off the second Troll's scaled shoulder and tumbles into the dark behind them...
---
Lomeluin has 18 arrows remaining.
|
|
|
Post by ehiker133 on Jun 7, 2011 19:57:45 GMT -6
As soon as Norin can make out the others from the party at the bottom of the stairs, he shouts, "Let us through! We'll try and bring them out with us!"
|
|
|
Post by doctorx on Jun 8, 2011 6:50:44 GMT -6
Lómëluin snarls a curse and keeps running, readying another arrow...
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Jun 8, 2011 7:58:04 GMT -6
Assuming Legandir agrees, Soval and Legandir will slowly back out with their weapons drawn as the forward party passes them coming out, hoping to lure the trolls into the open where superior force and perhaps sunlight can be brought to bear against them.
|
|
|
Post by ragnorakk on Jun 8, 2011 12:06:38 GMT -6
Celglin will rush back towards the sunlight, and prompt any healers of the expedition that their services may soon be required. Durin's way will not be easy...
|
|
|
Post by tombowings on Jun 8, 2011 15:43:25 GMT -6
Elindir similarly knocks and arrow and prepares to fire upon the trolls.
|
|
|
Post by waysoftheearth on Jun 8, 2011 17:52:08 GMT -6
First Legandir, then some moments later Elindir and Lomeluin, now run into the pale sunlight and join Soval and company.
Further up the stair, Norin and Sili come thudding down with their boots and mail clattering. Behind them the howling and roaring comes to an abrupt stop, and both Dwarfs dare a look over their shoulders... just in time to see the first of the Trolls seeming to fall awkwardly toward them. And then there is a mighty clatter as the Troll, stiff as a board, hits the stair side-on and breaks into scores of chunks of rock which then spill down the stair.
Further up in the dark, they spy the other pair of monsters are pulling back, their arms shielding their eyes from the distant glare of sunlight...
|
|
|
Post by ehiker133 on Jun 9, 2011 7:54:38 GMT -6
Norin turns around, cradles his warhammer in his arms, and shouts, "Where do you think you're going, you clan-less, willow-waisted sissies? We're not done with you!"Over his shoulder, he calls, "Aim for the one in back! I'll see if I can draw the one in front down to us."Then he spits on the largest piece of troll-come-statue within spitting range and glares at the monstrosity on the stairs like it's a bug that needs squishing. "Come on down, you witless, nose-picking cave-gherkin!"OOC: I can't take credit for the insults...limsk.tripod.com/dwarfswr.htm
|
|
|
Post by doctorx on Jun 9, 2011 11:43:46 GMT -6
Lómëluin moves up to stand beside Norin ands sends an arrow flying at the rearmost Troll; "Telthalion! To me!" he calls out loudly.
|
|
|
Post by Mushgnome on Jun 9, 2011 12:58:53 GMT -6
As soon as Sili reaches daylight: "HOT enough for ya?? You dangling, mucous-oozing oathbreaker!" He hurls his torch, taunting the pursuing trolls!
Then he scrambles behind the front rank of fighters to catch a breath and equip shield & flail for mop-up duty.
|
|
|
Post by waysoftheearth on Jun 10, 2011 2:39:48 GMT -6
The Dwarves fling insults at the retreating Trolls, shaking their mailed fists and rattling weapons and generally making a good Dwarfish racket. It has been too long since these halls echoed with the sound of Dwarf voices, and it feels good! Their blood is up.
Meanwhile Telthalion springs lightly up to the front to join Lomeluin as the latter lets fly another Mirkwood shaft. The white wood springs into the dark [1d20=7] but the missile is turned on the monster's scaly back.
The company gather their strength inside West Gate while the Trolls continue to scurry up and up, and around a long wide curve of the stair, vanishing into the darkness...
---
Lomeluin has 17 arrows remaining.
|
|
|
Post by crusssdaddy on Jun 10, 2011 7:10:56 GMT -6
Arbenbard: "I gather we have forfeit the element of surprise...?"
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Jun 10, 2011 7:30:05 GMT -6
"It depends how well they communicate," Soval replies. "All they really know is that a small party of elves and dwarves were poking around and ran from them. It will be mentioned if those things communicate with one another, but if we are fortunate it will not occur to them to coordinate a response.
"Scouts are perhaps likely, though. Methinks we should press in as soon as possible - a party our size cannot be hidden. Two cunning goblin scouts will soon be followed by a small army of orcs. I think we should heal, replenish our resources, and press forward."
|
|
|
Post by ehiker133 on Jun 10, 2011 7:34:48 GMT -6
Norin stops shaking his fist and lets it drop to his side. He takes a few deep breaths, then smiles and looks over at Sili and says, "I love it when a plan comes together."
He looks Sili up and down, "You're hurt." Norin rests his hand on Sili's shoulder and continues, "Hold on, I'll get Ymir to prepare a healing brew for you."
He moves to the entrance and sticks his head out the doorway.
"Ymir! Prepare a healing brew! We have a wounded dwarf in here!"
Then, back in the cave, "We should take just enough time to get Sili bandaged up and then I say we go right back up those stairs in force and clean the other two trolls out of the way. This time, we'll go up with the two dwarves in front, followed by two soldiers with longer weapons, like spears or pikes, and finally we should have at least two rows of archers. The archers should be able to get a few rounds off before the trolls can get within melee range and then we should be able to bring four attacks on them at once. The rest of the battle group can follow behind; we can use them if we make it to the room at the top, where we'll have the space."
|
|
|
Post by doctorx on Jun 10, 2011 7:50:28 GMT -6
Lómëluin nods his head in agreement. "We have the advantage. Let us not squander it. Those beasts will be back come nightfall, I'll wager, and perhaps not alone."
|
|
|
Post by Mushgnome on Jun 10, 2011 8:41:49 GMT -6
Sili grunts and gingerly pokes at his cracked ribs. "Hepti, Vestri: bring torches... We're going back in!"
|
|
|
Post by tombowings on Jun 10, 2011 11:55:01 GMT -6
"Let us order ourselves, rank-and-file like a legion of old descending into the untouched places of the world," suggests Elindir. "Axes and sword to the front; spears in the second rank; and archers to the rear."
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Jun 10, 2011 15:14:21 GMT -6
"A fine plan, fair Elindir," Soval says, "and we should have scouts as well. Perhaps elf-folk - and have we not some Stoor-cousined burglar among us? - moving out ahead, not to fight, but to tell us what might be seen, that we are able to prepare for our battles in advance!"
|
|