2: Flight from the Gill-Men

[apeloverage]

Alwyn gallantly guards the rear, in case of surprise attack.

[Hogscape]

Quinlan is poised to strike (after a quick hat adjustment)...

[burke]

As the gill-men pass the copse, you launch your ambush.

Charles drops one of the limping gill-men with his borrowed dirk. Drugan hurls his misercorde at another, barely scratching it because he is so exhausted. Poncho fells a strong looking brute with a well placed arrow and Varklud puts an arrow in another limper, incapacitating it. (Charles, Poncho and Varklud rolled sixes for damage.)

Only Burt and two others are left standing as you rush forward. Alwyn, who stays behind, conjures a wisp of light in Burt's face and drops the veil. Burt groans and tries to shield his eyes, even the faint light of The Illuminating Wisp of Woon is too much for his sensitive fish eyes.

(Roll for your attacks. Your HPT will be doubled because of the surprise. Burt and the limper are both at -1 die.)

Correction: Burt + 2 others survived. One is limping.

[Porkbelly]

Poncho:"That was some volley! Quinlan, I think your hat may have some mojo left in it after all!! Huzzah!"

Poncho leaps into battle:

2d6 +1
1 + 3 + 1 = 5

"Oops"

Edit: x2 = 10

[Hogscape]

Quinlan: "Attaaaaaaaaaack!"

[62] 09-07-14 15:19:43 EEST
2d6 +5
2 + 6 + 5 = 13

x2

=26

"Death to the gillies!!!!"

"Mop up the wounded with blades - they can't be allowed to recover!"

[danhem]

Charles leaps from the cover of the trees with sax and shield, teeth bared and screaming.

"Eat steel vile worms!"


1d6 + 5 + 1
3 + 5 + 1 = 9 x 2 = 18

[burke]

Your fierce charge completely overwhelms the gill-men and soon they all lie at your feet. (You won by 76 to 29.) Five of them are barely alive and of them, only Burt seems to have any presence of mind left. His breath is a rasping gurgle and he snarls weakly as you close in around him.

Away to the east, through the gloom of the rain, you can see the crouched silhouettes of the remaining gill-men looking your way. Probably still trying to determine which side won the battle. Only one of the four is standing up.

(Just to be clear: according to the rules, monsters regain 5 MR per turn. So unless you tame them, which is impossible if you cannot communicate with them, they will be up and about again in 10 to 20 minutes. That's why they are called monsters!

You will also need to kill, tame or take them prisoner to get EP for them. In other words, defeat them permanently.)

[Hogscape]

As Quinlan has already mentioned, if no one else makes a move to 'mop up' he will. And by mopping up I mean beheading any gillies that aren't already in that state!

Quinlan then pulls out a small moleskein booklet from his hatband and heads the first page "Things I cannot abide to live"; adding "gillmen" directly below.... Before returning the booklet to its hiding spot.

Grrrr.

[Porkbelly]

Poncho glances side-wise at Charles as Quinlan rushes around madly cutting off heads.

Poncho: "Quinlan, whenever you're ready, perhaps we can leave the wizards to finish mopping up the last few here and go after the four yonder before they recover. Besides I think Drugan has a score to settle with that one (kicks Burt). Here Alwyn, a misericorde will help set them to rights."

"What say you Charles, shall we run them down with their own spears? Watch out for caltrops."

[Hogscape]

Quinlan:"Hang on, I'll just finish off this last cod-faced barsteward <snick>, <squelch>; right lets try and draw them down here where we can fillet them nicely."

"Hey, any loot on these slimers?"

[burke]

Quinlan quickly dispatches the five gill-men. The regulars quaver with fear and try to plead in their hideous language, but Burt simply looks his executioner in the eyes and utters a guttural curse, before his head rolls off his shoulders.

The gill-men do not carry anything other than their weaponry. (6 tridents, you already have Burt's necklace.)

As you begin to move towards the remaining group, the standing silhouette seems to notice that his own team has lost the battle and legs it. Those with bows may try to bring him down. (Roll for damage. The gill-man rolled 9 for protection.)

[danhem]

Charles grabs one of the tridents and runs toward the cluster of remaining gill men.

"Don't let that one get away! He may bring the rest of the tribe down on our heads!"

When Charles reaches the gill men he will put them out of their misery. Unless any rise to their feet before then in which case he will throw the trident at the nearest one and then move into combat with sax and shield. (Let me know if any rolls are necessary).

[Porkbelly]

Poncho takes a potshot at the fleeing fish-man

1d6 +7
5 + 7 = 12

Then charges in behind Charles.

[Hogscape]

Quinlan: "Chase 'em off, cut 'em down, clean 'em up! Rawhide!"

<ooc: Can't roll dice at work but can send evil thoughts after those fishy types!>

[burke]

Poncho fells the fleeing gill-man and by the time everyone has gathered together again, Charles has mopped up the last of the wounded. Blood and gore trail from the points of his trident and the soggy ground around the dead gill-men is a huge red circle. The stench of gutted fish is strong in the wet air.

You gather up everything of value. The loot: 1 golden necklace of curious design and 3 serviceable tridents.

(Experience: 210 EP each from the combat + 2 x any ST expended casting spells. Pipe up if there is something I've forgotten or that you think is noteworthy.

If you want to gather up the caltrops, roll 1d6+4 to see how many you find. If you want to recover arrows roll 1d6 for each, 1-3 broken or lost, 4-6 recovered. All other thrown weapons are recoverable and still in serviceable condition.

I also suggest that everyone go through their actions (the previous thread has been restored) and update their character sheets accordingly.)

The way to the south-east looks clear, but visibility is low because of the rain. Some water fowl can be seen on the surface of the flooded pond and that seems to be the only sign of life around you.