One of the things I like about B/X is the possibility for cascading combat - initiative and wandering monster checks are a bitch and when they come one after the other, even if the combatants aren't by themselves a terrible threat, its the grinding momentum of the withering the party faces that eventually makes them come to the realization - sometimes it is time to flee.
Follows:
FORTY FIVE
(I/C)
Brendon and Lyra grabbed their backpacks and dropped equipment, slinging it over arms while Abraxas was guiding the party south to the turn at the top of the stairs. “Here!” he pointed. “We will all take turns, shooting and throwing and then fade back for the next amigo to do so.”
“Are you mad?” Lannis asked. “I should be in the back.”
“You weel be, Senor Lumpless, after you throw your dart.”
“But who will be supervising the battle? I nominate myself.”
“Senor, please!” The sound of the goblins approach was getting louder and the group was gathering together still not ready. Lannis folded his arms over his chest. “It’s MY nipples! Ok? I have to protect them!”
“What the…holy frijoles…” Abraxas sighed heavily, drawing the stone tipped javelin he had taken earlier and leaned back ready to throw. “Ah, so much for a plan. We should rest after this for sure. Or die.”
“So negative,” Lannis replied, looking down the steps into the darkness below.
“Oh... mo’ gobs be a-comin’?” Wyn nocked an arrow and drew back, fletching tickling his ear. “Sure hope I cen get a free sec to grab me arrows back afta dis...” He cleared his throat. “My fie-tah friends, what shall we do to end dis quickly? I tink ees almos time for one ov dem ‘siestas’ Monsieur Salazar always be talkin’ bout.”
As the goblins drew closer Kovid drew a deep breath and shouted out, “In the name of Thor's Flashing Family Jewels, I smite thee!”
(<Goblin Wis check, Red/Green 4) From around the corner we could hear the goblins shouting back in Common, “Dwarf! I hear dwarf! Let us kill dwarf and use beard as sockies! You die dwarf!”
“You green little shits are about to be mere smears on my heels!"Kovid cried out as the goblins’ footsteps drew closer. “Steady…” the dwarf said, steel dagger ready to throw…
And there. Five of them, no torches, long knobby clubs in their hands.
“NOW!” Abraxas and Kovid cried out.
The dwarf pumped forward, heavy steel dagger flashed in the torchlight (<+0 to hit, Yellow 10) at the lead goblin who brought his club up in time and the knocked the weapon overhead and away! “Suck it, McShitstain!” he cried out.
Abraxas grunted as he hurled the kobold javelin through the air (>+3 to hit, Blue 15) slamming into the next goblin and tracing a foot long deep furrow across its greenskin chest (1d4 Damage, Blue 3). “You are a stain of shit, Bob!” the fighter cried.
Wyn took aim at the wounded goblin and exhaled, releasing his arrow (>+5 to hit, Orange 20, Critical, Max damage 6 and killed!) where it blossomed in the center of its face and dumped it on its back, dead instantly. “Suck on my arrow, Monsieur!”
Brendon seeing the goblins close further also shot (>+4 to hit, Red 20, Critical, Max damage 6) striking the next lead goblin in the groin, nicking the little bastard’s femoral artery and coating the hall with blood. It staggered on the arrow in its crotch bobbing wildly.
“Really, Brendon?” Lyra asked, her own sling finally swinging wildly overhead as she let another stone sail off (=+3 to hit, -4 penalty weapon preparation, White 13) clocking the staggering goblin in the chest (1d3 damage, White 3: 2 Damage and killed!) before it slumped over and died.
"Push through them,” Lannis begged, “We can stay trapped here for too long!"
The battle line closed (Morale check: 7 – passed) as the lead two goblins ran closed, clubs flailing. Lyra looked behind her at the steps. “Worst comes to worse couldn’t we just head down those stairs?”
“No!” Lannis said vehemently.
“We don’t know if it’s an exit, but it’s a plan if things start to go sour.”
“No! Really bad plan,” the two goblins hit Abraxas and Kovid hard, clubs flailing and the sounds of weapons on shield and armor filled the hall. “You two just do what you do!”
The one attacking Abraxas (<+1 to hit, Black 1, Fumble! 5, injure self 1 hp) slipped up while attacking, getting the Fighter’s boot into its shin and causing it to hop back wincing in pain. “Hokey Pokey that, Senor Bob! Keep your leg IN!”
Meanwhile the other one on Kovid was having better luck (=+1 to hit, Red/Black 15 – thanks Kelly!) and smashed its club through the dwarf’s defense too many times, adding more bruises and scrapes to the already battered dwarf (1d6 Damage, Red/Black 3 Damage).
The last one stopped at the corner and seeing the hall was packed (Decision: Steel 2) dug out some dead mice from the bag dangling at its belts and stomped on them, screaming “Four Eat! Four Eat!” as loud as it can.
“Senor Gobbo is loco, no?” Abraxas asked, ducking another blow and buffeting his foe in return.
“Four Eat!!!”
(Attract: Black 1) From the stairs below, Lannis (no listening check needed) could hear some heavy splashing followed by chittering sounds. Deep chittering sounds and clickity clackity scrape noises of running heavy nails on stone. And from below, 30’ down at the base of the steps, the Magic User could see one pair of red malevolent eyes staring up at him…And then another…
And then a third.
“I hate this fucking game,” Lannis cursed. “Guys! We have COMPANY COMING!” He called out, hands weaving overhead in intricate patterns, spell words dancing off his lips and the rapid buildup of magical forces before the air in front of his tore open and ropy long strands of finger width spiraling sticky webbing blew down the steps as the ANGRY figures below LUNGED their way up.
And were struck immediately, caught in the thick webs in the gloom below. They were writhing and screaming and chattering and just sounded terrible. “Ain’t no fucking hamsters,” he muttered, turning back to the battle in front of him. “Let’s go, roadblocks! Marines, we ARE leaving!”
(Initiative: Party Steel 2, Goblins Red/Black 3 – thanks Kelly!!)
The lone goblin at the end screamed in frustration at the squealing sounds heard below, giving the mage a miserable stare. It shouted UP the hall to the north in Goblin, really loud, making Wyn and Brendon groan. “Shit/Merde. It’s calling Grilljax and asking how long till they are coming back?”
“Well?” Lyra said, loading up another stone. “What did they say?”
An answering call came back down the hall, distant but still clear. The goblin gave a yip of cheer and called to its companions the kobold’s answer. Wyn and Brendon both looked at one another and shuddered. “Monseuirs!? We have 3 minutes and then the kobolds, many of them I would imagine, will be here.”
Kovid snarled, smiling a rictus grin as he blocked another blow with his hammer. “Then let’s send these green sons of whores to Hel!” The goblin he was fighting was unable to duplicate its attack from earlier (<+1 to hit, Green 4) and the two of them struggled back and forth together.
Meanwhile the one with the aching shin redoubled its efforts against Abraxas but even that (<+1 to hit, Teal 12) failed to do any real damage to the Fighter. “Time to make the blood rain!” he shouted, sword whistling through the air.
Time now is 3:44
(OOC)
2 goblins dead, 2 in front of you, 1 on Abraxas has 1 pt damage, 5th goblin at the end of the hall partial cover watching the group and calling to Grilljax who answered back saying 3 minutes away.
And below are THREE something stuck in Lannis’ web, keeping the group from being assaulted from both sides. Kovid now has 16 pts of damage and the party is hemorrhaging arrows, stones, spells, and hit points.
Bottom of the round, your turn!
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