Home again, home again [PC] Firebug

[Game Master]

The goblins sabre strikes the mystics invisible armor creating an incandescent display of sparks and light. (13 to hit, 3 SDC) the goblin, startled, back peddles and falls on his butt. Scrambling to its scrawny legs it flees back the way it came. The fourth orc came around the corner at almost the same time colliding with the goblin both falling to the ground in a heap. The last of the Ogres, this one carrying a gigantic warhammer bringing it down upon the crossbow bearing Jaegers shield (13 to hit, 15 to parry, 15 SDC). The Jag collapses to one knee from the blow, but seems unharmed. The second Jaeger ordered to watch the other passage seemed bubbling with energy. "They need us Brock!" he shouted to his companion. There be nothing over here for us." Yet he held his ground.

Reeks gave forth a hearty laugh as he faced off against two of the green skins. He jabbed the head of his hammer at the first goblin (#5) but the green skin knocked it aside with its sabre. Silvermail with blood partially blinding him fought on as if it was only a minor inconvenience. His axe came in at waist hight disemboweling the goblin (#1) (17 to hit, 15 to parry, 9 damage/dead). Elfthrasher also beset by a greenskin came down with an overhead chop but was blocked. (7 to hit, 12 parry). The last crossbowman recovering from the Ogres mighty hammer blow thrust his axe up under the goblins chin (#4) was spooked when the Ogre attacked. (14 to hit, 8 to parry, 14 damage/dead). Halfhelm challenged by the Orc swung his hammers lazily in his fingers in a spinning motion. With lightning speed he went down on one knee striking the downed goblin (#9) in the face with the right (Paired weapons: 18 to hit, 12 dodge, 14 damage/dead) crushing it and smacking the left into the orcs (#1) hip. (16 to hit, 11 parry, 15 damage). The orc grunted in pain but continued its attack. Goblin 3 struck again at Elfthrasher and again cut a deep scar into his iron shield. (5 to hit, 18 to parry 3 SDC). Goblin 5 after avoiding Reeks hammer swiped at the laughing merc only to be repelled. (13 to hit, 17 to parry). The wounded Orc brought his mace down upon halfhelm in an attempt to brain him. The smith knocked it aside as if it were made of paper. (4 to hit, 11 to parry). The Ogre who was more interested in crowd control took his anger out on the goblin who fled from the Mystical FireBug. Not excepting cowardiss he pinned the fallen fellow to the ground with his mighty sword. (14 to hit, no dodge, 14 damage/dead). The other greenskin fighting Reeks ( #7) came in high and true, but even this was parried by the merc. (18 to hit, 21 parry). The Ogre carrying the unwieldy ball and chain seemed unconcerned that he had just killed a goblin instead of Kursaville. Pulling the chain for another strike Kursaville managed to deflect the balls path by whacking the chain as it pulled taught. It was redirected harmlessly into the tunnel wall. (18 to hit, 18 to parry). The orc fighting Siff having given as good as it took chocked up on the bi-pennis axes shaft and gave a quick chop at the priestess. Training for hours on end every week taught Siff how to move her oversized tower shield with quickness and precision blocking the axe. (7 to hit, 8 to parry 3 SDC). The now single goblin facing the bloodied Silvermail attacked the dwarf with fury but only cut his shield. (6 to hit, 16 to parry, 5 sdc).

[Game Master]

Firebug unaffected by the goblins attack launches a bolt of mage fire at the head of the sword weilding Ogre. The green fire hits dead on and the Ogre howls in pain. (21 to hit, no dodge, CALLED SHOT Head, 21 damage, partial blindness -2 strike, parry and dodge). Kursaville still dueling it out with both an orc and an Ogre attempts to take out the orc but only cuts some links from its armor (9 to hit, 6 parry 8 SDC). The orc retaliates in kind giving Kursaville a mighty blow from its battle axe cutting into his leg plating and thigh leaving a bloody wound. (18 to hit, 13 parry 15 damage). Siff stabbs down with her spear right through the greenskins shoulder armor (21 to hit, 9 parry, 7 damage). The last orc regains his feet after colliding with the now dead goblin. The mage fire and now the rampaging Ogre a foot away from him proves to be to much. Sparing no time to retrieve his dropped morning star the Orc runs back down the corridor to the forge room. The hammer toting Ogre swings yet again at the dwarven Jaeger and again pummels his shield denting it. (8 to hit, 9 to parry, 12 SDC). Kursaville shrugs off the horrible leg wound and lunges at the orc this time scoring a hit to its midsection. (16 to hit, 9 parry 7 damage).

[Game Master]

FireBug spoke the words of enchantment attempting to befuddle the mind of the Ogre attacking Kursaville, yet nothing seemed to happen. Did he cast the spell in error? No, he was certain he had done it correctly. Could the beast be of stronger will then he originally thought? Then again, maybe the creatures tiny brain was so small as to be impossible to befuddle further? Would Firebug even be able to tell if an Ogre was in fact befuddled? The one Firebug had just burned was already acting completely contrary to normal behavior. All this and more raced through the Mystics intellectual mind in a split second. Truth was the spell simply didn't have an effect on the Ogre. (Save needed 12, rolled 13, spell failed).

After FireBugs failed spell the Jaeger besieged by the hammer swinging Ogre (3) chopped at the beast but the blade just dented the Ogres shin guard. (14 to hit, 3 parry, 10 SDC). Next the orc fighting Kursaville came down with his wicked looking axe with such force that it buried its entire blade into the ground and stuck there. (CRITICAL MISS 1, no parry needed, loss of weapon). Unable to take it any longer one of the dwarf Jaeger's guarding the other entrance broke rank and charged the berzerking Ogre with the sword but failed to penetrate its plate armor on his first swing. (14 to hit, 8 parry, 7 SDC). Silvermail fought on with a goblin opponent (8) with a chop to the side. The goblins sword met the axe head square in a text book block but was unable to keep the dwarfs superior strength from forcing the blade into the greenskins hide. (22 to hit, 18 parry, 13 damage/dead). Elfthrasher was not as successful as his commander as his axe caught nothing but air (3 to hit). One of the goblins facing Reeks came at him with a jab of its sword but the mercenary again knocked it aside. (12 to hit, 19 parry). The wounded orc sparing with Siff came again with his axe. Siff blocked with her shield but the blow was so fierce it broke it from its arm straps rendering it useless. (11 to hit, critical miss-parry 1, 14 SDC). Siff retaliated by plunging her spear into the orcs throat. (2o to hit, 8 parry, 8 damage/coma-death). The ugly looking goblin paired against elfthrasher used the dwarfs error against him. Attacking while the dwarf was overextended he came down with his saber lopping Elfthrashers axe hand off at the wrist. (CRITICAL 20 to hit, CRITICAL MISS/PARRY 1, 12 damage: -1 pp, -2 ps, -20% on all manual skills, -1 hit point per melee till tended to).

ooc: next up Reeks.

[Game Master]

The battle was over as fast as it began. It was hard to believe only a minute or so had passed. When Reeks and Elf thrasher dispatched the last of the goblins they were able to help Lord Kursaville from being killed. The blinded Ogre was hamstrung and cut to ribbons while the Ball and chain wielding Ogre was taken down as well from a concentrated group attack. Only the Hammer bearing Ogre and a lone Orc escaped back down the tunnel towards the forge. Taking stock Firebug realized that the party had faired quite well. One of the crossbow bearing Jaegers had fallen to an Ogre, Elfthrasher had lost a hand and many of the group was wounded in some degree but before them lay over a dozen felled goblins, orcs and Ogres. As he looked around everyone was using the time to catch there breath while Siff healed those who excepted her fee.

Halfhelm who was unscathed walked over to the mystic. "What now lad? We got them on the run."

[sfliegel]

"We need to press the attack, but we need to regain our strength. When Siff is through doing her healing we will continue down the tunnel. Also remember there are trolls awaiting us. If you are ready Master Dwarf, we will stamp out this smuggling ring for good."

[Game Master]

Siff layed hands on as many willing dwarves and humans as she could. In the end Kursaville had made a complete recovery as had Silvermail. Elfthrasher would never regain his hand but he wouldn't bleed to death either. Everyone looked as good as they were going to get at this point except for Siff herself. The multiple healings seemed to sap some of the strength from her and her wounds were bandaged by medicine not healed by magic. When Fire Bug approached her she smiled wearily. "The curse of being a priestess is that while I may have the gift to heal others I can do nothing for myself. It helps us to be humble." She shrugs and continues. "I fear I must relagte myself to the rear from this point on. I have lost my shield as well it appears."

[sfliegel]

"You have earned much respect from both your men and your God this day Lady Siff. I can not offer you much but let me give this to you," Firebug said as he layed this hand against her cheek and cast Armor of Ithan on her, "this should keep you safe until we can get you proper healing."

Turning to the rest of the group, "Lads, we have done much but there still be more evil before us. They know we are here but know now what we can do. Let us face them together battle so that they will not stain the face of the world another day with their vile presence."

[Game Master]

The group reformed with the remaining dwarfs all up front in a row. Firebug, Lady Siff walked behind them with Lord Kursaville taking up the rear guard position. Marching double time down the corridor they spilled out into the underground smithey ready to do battle yet again.

The smithey was hot. Smoke billowed up through vents in the roof and the forges fire cast shadows everywhere making the room glow in a reddish hue. The place was deserted. The monsters and their dwarven masters must have continued on through the eastern tunnel. Fine weapons and armor lay stacked in neat piles around the room as well as all the tools needed to run a proper dwarven smithey.

[sfliegel]

Firebug's eye scanned all of the equipment. He figured that there must be a fortune in armor and weapons littering the room. Enough to arm an army with.

"There's no reason to let these go to waste. Everyone should check your gear and either replace or replenish," Firebug called out, "does anyone have an estimate on the number of troops that could be outfitted by this cache? We need to keep moving but they are expecting us so we need to be prepared for a possible ambush once within that tunnel."

[Game Master]

Silvermail responds.

"There is enough here for a reinforced Company of troops. Not dwarven though. I'd guess orc shock troopers supported by goblin crossbowmen."

"Our friends have been busy, aye Mystic?" Kursaville commented to Firebug. "Where the bloody hell is this army?"

Siff grabed a small iron shield to replace her tower shield while a couple of the Jaegers did the same. The armor was to large for the squat, barrel chested dwarfs and Lord Kursaville seemed content with what he had. The group including Reeks did replenish their lost quarrels from the large stock pile in the room.

[sfliegel]

"We'd best keep moving. Everyone needs to be on their toes." Said Firebug as everyone had already begun moving toward the east tunnel.

[Game Master]

The group advanced at a slow jog. They needed to catch up but stay alert as well. Firebug cast Shadow meld on himself and became invisible. There was a stifled yelp from Lord Kursaville that ended in a whispered "Damn mystics."

After only a few minutes a mining car was past and the center of the tunnel became tracked like some of the tunnels in Halfhelm's mine. The group jogged on and soon Firebug's lungs were burning. He was clearly the least physically fit of the outfit but he was determined to not slow them down and pressed on. Several minutes later not a single side passage had been discovered. Firebug was finding it almost impossible to hide his labored breathing and both Kursaville and Siff offered hushed encouragements. The mystic was sure the tunnel was on a slight incline. Just before Firebug's lungs could take no more and force him to call a halt he was saved by Halfhelm doing it for him. The old dwarf turned around and Firebug stepped into the lamp light as to be seen. Looking at the now coughing mystic Halfhelm shook his head.

"Damn those traitorous dwarfs! Don't you see lad. The reason I never noticed any iron ore go missing in my smithy is because they were not taking it from my stock pile but from the mine directly. I'd wager my life savings that this here tunnel goes right up to mine number one or even three."

Siff stepped in when it was obvious Firebug had yet to recover his breath. "If they get to the mines won't they be able to escape. They could hide out for weeks and never be found until they could slip out."

"Aye lass, that they could. I'll be damned if I'll have orcs and Trolls running amok in my Mine!" Halfhelm looked again to Firebug who finally had managed to get his lungs down to a reasonable burning sensation. At least the cramps were gone. "Look lad. Let me and the Jaeger's finish this. We'll make sure to take a prisoner or two. Go back and find that friend of yours. He's got to be off in the direction of the castle if he wasn't with this bunch." He pointed over his shoulder with a thumb for emphasis.

Siff waited to see what Firebug would say. Kursaville nodded his agreement with Halfhelm and Reeks put in his two cents. "Its up to you Mystic but I would like to know if that green idiot has gotten himself into trouble."

[sfliegel]

Firebug nodded quickly <cough, cough>, "Great idea Master Dwarf. We shall go look for our friend. Happy hunting to you my friend." He leaned heavily on Kursaville, "maybe we could walk for a bit longer, yes?"

[Game Master]

"I think we might at that, my friend." Kursaville added with a smile.

Reeks frowned at slowing down but reluctantly agreed. "Well I suppose if that idiot orc hasn't gotten himself killed or a smugglers tattoo by now then he's probably beating the snot out of his hosts by cheating at cards!"

The whole group chuckled and began the hike back down to the forge.

"You think Master Halfhelm and the remaining Jaegers will catch them in time?" Siff commented a few minutes later.

"Aye, lass." Reeks spoke sagely. "They're all trained military. Even Halfhelm or I'm a dark elf. Dwarfs may not be built for speed but we can plod along almost continually and catch the likes of those green skins any day. Halfhelm's traitorous assistants had a good head start though, but they aren't trained in forced marches. My guess is it will be close but they'll catch them, now that we aren't slowing them down." Reeks elbowed Firebug playfully in the ribs at this last statement.

[sfliegel]

Firebug smiled weakly at the implication but he really couldn't argue that the fact that he didn't have nearly the physical abilites that they others had. But then he smiled a little wider thinking about how much more intelligent he was and the things that his more powerful mind could do. Well thanks to his lucky charm. He reached for under his shirt just to make sure that he hadn't lost it during the running nonsense with the dwarves.

"Thank you Reeks my friend and you are correct, but now we should really focus on finding Gaul." Firebug motioned for the group to keep moving forward.