PBEM - Episode 264. Ambush

Corfard's forces are smart and fight with the appropriate intelligence and tactics. A situation that often irritates players.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR

(I/C)

With the entire area shrouded in silence, there was no chance for the group to put together tactics, relying instead on instinct. Wyn slapped one of his magic arrows to the string of his bow, drew back, and fired it at one of the two Hobgoblin warriors that just tossed Kovid into the pool. The enchanted arrow slashed out (>+5 to hit, Orange 15) streaking towards the armored humanoid, and an additional arrow from his quiver traced along behind it in a spray of yellow streamers. Both of them impacted the brute in the midsection (1d6 Damage: Orange 5 and Orange 2 – 7 Damage!), making it rock back and sneer at the elf.

Taking advantage of that distraction, Lyra slid out of her backpack, dropped her shield and flail, and then rolled (<Dex check, White 1 – perfect!) around the stomping Hobgoblins and launched herself down into the frigid cold in an effort to try and save the dwarf struggling deep below.

Abraxas and Lannis were tangled up briefly until the Fighter managed to step around the Magic User who was making it his effort to run UP the stairs! Brendon who was about to fire his bow lunged for the Wizard (Combative Dex check: Pink 3 (under by 12) vs Red 11 (under by 5) – Lannis wins (sort of?!?)) but was too slow and instead saw the Magic User running up the stairs at full speed into the gloom. Silently cursing after him, his attention was drawn back to the battle and shook his head angrily, getting his arrow ready.

Kovid found himself at the floor of the pool. Coiling his legs, he pushed. Thrusting upward, he reached and tried to swim (>Str check -11, Yellow 20 – Critical failure!) but instead slipped and thrashed about, spinning in the water futilely (Lose 1 minute of air, take 1 point of damage), a mouthful of bubbles escaping up towards the surface as he tried to right himself. Lyra finally managed to swim down to the dwarf and looped an arm around his, trying to keep him from becoming more frantic.

Taking the spot where Lyra had once been, Abraxas ran in front of Wyn and met the two Hobgoblins there with his Morrigaan Scythe. He traded blows with the warrior who had already been wounded by a pair of Wyn’s arrows. Silver flashed. Blood spilt. The hobgoblin hit the wall. Snarling, they both tried to stab each other. But the Fighter managed to force his defense to the side and the enchanted weapon bit deep (>+6 to hit, Blue 16), scoring a deep wound in the brute’s flank (1d8+3 Damage, Blue 8 – 11 Damage!) and driving him briefly to his knees, face screwed up in pain.

Which allowed Abraxas to reverse his weapon’s path and bring it around for a second blow (>+6 to hit, Blue 13), hitting the Hobgoblin in the back of the head (1d8+3 Damage, Blue 5- 8 Damage and killed!!) and split it open, showering the floor with blood and brain matter.

Losing some time and unable to stop Lannis from fleeing, Brendon drew his own magic arrow from his quiver and took aim at the distant Adept that had hit him with the spell earlier. He fired (>+6 to hit, -2 tried for Lannis, Red 19) and the shaft flew towards the robed figure, drawing an additional arrow from his quiver as well, both of them hitting the Salamander hard (1d6 Damage: Red 6 and Red 5 – 11 Damage and killed!), dropping it to the ground.

Lannis ran, terror behind him. He hit the walls, bounced off, and picked himself up. He could hear high pitched keening, echoing around him in the darkness. Head low he charged hard, hoping to find safety. Somewhere? Anywhere? His ankles hit the far stairs, invisible in the blackness of the corridor. He cried out (>Save vs Death Ray: Pink 17) but caught himself with a lucky stumble and outthrust hand. His head struck the wall, lost his hat, and he kept going, making it to the top of the stairs in a breathless wheezing gasp of unnatural fear (1-3 North, 4-6 East: 6 – East). Holding on to the right wall to keep his balance, he ran on.

(Initiative: Party Steel 3 vs Enemy Red/Black 4)

One of the Adepts dropped to his knees, yanked both arrows out of the fallen one’s chest, and then upended a healing potion down its throat (Heal Potion: 1d6 – White 3), making it shake and then roll over. The one that had tended to it pointed down into the water where Lyra and Kovid could be seen (2 minutes left on both of them) ready to make their ascent to the surface. It smiled, let its robes fall free, and the humanoid amphibian sluiced into the water with serious ease of practice, diving down to intercept the other two.

The final one still had its sling free and dropped something heavy into the pouch, spun it three times and let it fly (>+1 to hit, green 13), where it hit the stone just before Abraxas’ feet and shattered, leaving a puddle of slippery oil on the ground from the Fighter to just in front of Wyn who looked troubled at the Adept. Who in turn grinned at the elf with evil cunning.

The remaining hobgoblin, seeing the oil on the floor, came at Abraxas, dropping his short sword to his left hand and hitting the fighter in the other side of his body (BX Baby: <Strength check -2, White 7), making sure that all his powerful blows were pushing the Fighter standing on oily ground TOWARDS the pool! (>+3 to hit, Black 18) Abraxas took a few punishing blows (1d6+1 Damage, Red/Black 5: 6 Damage. Damage Deflection: <Str Check, White 7 – Take 3 Damage! (-4 on next to hit) ) but the fighter was able to struggle through the worst of it. There was a time when his feet slipped on the treacherous footing (<Dex check +4 bonus, White 3 – ok!) but he was able to keep himself from either falling or being knocked into the pool.

Finally, the Salamander in the water had swum down to the other two who were horrified to see it come up to them effortlessly, and it made a lunging grab for (1-3 Kovid, 4-6 Lyra: Red/Black 1 – Kovid!) taking the dwarf’s other arm and making an effort to pull him away from the Cleric – and the safety of the surface above!

Time now is Day 7, 3:42 PM

(OOC)

Lyra and Kovid – 2 minutes left to get out, and there is a salamander (wounded) but at home in the water looking to keep the dwarf under long enough to drown, how do you want to handle THAT?!  Abraxas, floor is slippery, be careful. Lannis, running for 18 more minutes – as you get to an intersection, its random on which way to go, and you are running in total darkness for now. You will want to eventually get to a place to hide but you can’t “aim” for a place right now. If you run into another monster you would get another save to see if the new threat “scares” the fear right out of you. Bottom of the round!