Something Wicked this way Comes...

[LordDice]

Karazi

Measuring up the state of affairs for a moment he eventually gestures a tad with his shield arm, firing off a shot from his build in wand of Entangle to try and slow the horde a bit. "Archers keep up the volley, don't let those damned orcs get a single foot in here !"

Sid having been slammed aginst the side of the tunnel shakes himself a second and rushing back in attempting to take another swipe at the Giant in order to assist Taalkar.

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Entangle wand -through- the door if possible, trying to slow the guys pouring in.

Sid attack (1d20+9)[19]
Damage (1d8+7)[14]

Kinda lite on the fluff...eh, what can you do sometimes.

[Barthac]

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HP: 43/45
Readied Maneuvers: Steel Wind, Claw at the Moon, Mountain Hammer, Iron Heart Surge
Active Stance: Stonefoot Stance: +2 to Strength Checks, +2 AC vs. Larger Foes

Taalkar shifts his large feet to a different position, dropping his defense slightly to get a better angle on the giant. He then swings a powerful sideswipe at the giant.

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Dropping Stonefoot Stance for Punishing Stance (-2 AC +1d6 Damage)
My AC is 15 (19 vs. Giants) (-1 Dex Bonus, -1 Size, -2 stance)

Uses Mountain Hammer to attack the giant
ToHit:(1D20+10)[25]
Weapon Damage: (3D6+7)[20]
Maneuver Damage: (2d6)[6] (overcomes Hardness and DR)
Stance Damage: (1d6)[6]

[Mr. X]

Stone muddies and wood twists and ensnares outside the gate, slowing the inpouring flood of barbarians...

Sid batters heavily, and ineffectually against the giant's tough hide, as Taalkar slashes a grazing blow across the immense man's chest, drawing a deep line of blood.

Leaning back away from Taalkar's slash, the giant catches up a fallen beam nearly as thick as a tree, and smashes it into the dwarf in a crushing upwards blow...

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Giant's 1st attack vs. Taalkar (-4 for Awesome Blow)

(1d20+12)[20]
Damage (Greatclub): (2d8+7)[16]

2nd Attack:
(1d20+11)[20]
Damage:(2d8+7)[19]

Catching the dwarf under the chin, and sending him flying backwards into the lines of his own troops, armor wrenching and bones breaking beneath the weight of his falling bulk... Stepping forward, the giant delivers another titanic blow to the dwarf's chest as he lays prone...

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Taalkar, please roll falling damage equal to your increased weight falling 10ft, and apply it to the four dwarves directly behind you, as your falling bulk crushes them. They each have 26hp. You are currently knocked prone. (I'm guessing with all your gear and such you weigh around 300lbs before the enlarge spell, but I'm not sure. Go ahead and figure it out, if you like, or just roll 12d6)

Your fall shatters the dwarven line, and its only due to Karazi's entanglement buying precious seconds for the dwarves fall back and reassemble, that the position is not completely overrun.

Take your actions.

[LordDice]

Karazi

Shocked into stillness as he watches Taalkar brutally smashed backwards into the line...barely rolling to avoid the followup hit. Dwarves everywhere moaning in pain from the impact...some not even able to get up at all.

Trying to recover he starts barking out orders
"Quickly drag the wounded back, reform the line ! Archers keep covering them damnit."

"Someone run and find out if they can get some catapults aimed at this doorway...these giants just DON'T GO DOWN"

A quick mental order to Sid over their link and he starts casting a spell to hopefully buy them a bit more time. A flash of light and stone starts forming up near the giant into the form of a Hippogriff...as the form completes another flash and it comes to life immediately clawing at the Giant.

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Sid'll attack and then flow back underground to safety
Attack (1d20+9)[13]
Damage (1d8+8)[10]

Summoning a Hippogriff using my Gust of wind spell
between the giant and Taalkar he full attacks the Giant and Grapples if possible.
Attack 1 Claw (1d20+6)[11]
Claw Damage (1d4+4)[7]
Attack 2 Claw (1d20+6)[10]
Claw Damage (1d4+4)[5]
Attack 3 Bite (1d20+1)[9]
Bite Damage (1d8+2)[5]

Grapple (1d20+11)[31]

[Barthac]

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HP: 27/45
Readied Maneuvers: Steel Wind, Claw at the Moon, Mountain Hammer, Iron Heart Surge
Active Stance: Stonefoot Stance: +2 to Strength Checks, +2 AC vs. Larger Foes

Taalkar shakes his head, resolving the image of three giants back into one.

One I can handle he mutters.

He regains his defensive footing and reaches out with his axe in a violent manner towards the giant.

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Back to Stonefoot stance and using PA to get 20' reach. Attacking from behind the hippogriff. Also using a normal attack to regain maneuvers.

My AC is 17 (23 vs. Giants) (-1 Dex Bonus, -1 Size)
Melee tohit is unchanged +10 (str +1 size -1)
Axe Damage is 3D6+7 (Str +1)
and I am roughly 9Ft tall and weigh in at around 1.25 tons

ToHit: (PA 3) (1D20+7)[19]
Damage: (3d6+10)[27]

[Mr. X]

The winged beast screams and attacks, slashing and snapping at the giant with claws and beak, and even driving the beast back a bit, but failing to find purchase, latching onto the giants forearm as he covers his face from the onslaught...

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Strength check to resist grapple:
(1d20+20)[38]

Giants 1st attack vs Hippogriff, Power Attack -5:
(1d20+11)[14]
Damage: (2d8+12)[14]

Giant's 2nd Attack vs. Hippogriff (if it survives the first, else against Taalkar):
(1d20+6)[10]
Damage: (2d8+12)[24]

... But with a lurch, the giant man throws off the creature, lunging after it with mountainous blow after mountainous blow, as the winged beast flits and squirms away, staying mere inches ahead of the crushing beam...

It's attention diverted, Taalkar takes his opportunity, but his boot slips in the spreading blood and gore that is beginning to coat the floor, and he manages to land only a glancing blow...

Ahead the great gate wrenches and groans, Being torn wider open, and a new tide of barbarians flood in at the feet of another giant...

...The tide is turning against you.

Far behind, Karazi glimpses the man he sent to the catapults riding the winch up the Inner Curtain. It won't be long before they get their orders...

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You've got three rounds before the next giant enters, and two rounds before the catapults fire.

Also, I've never seen a giant roll so poorly.

[Barthac]

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HP: 27/45
Readied Maneuvers: Steel Wind, Claw at the Moon, Mountain Hammer, Iron Heart Surge
Active Stance: Stonefoot Stance: +2 to Strength Checks, +2 AC vs. Larger Foes

Seeing the giants attention diverted by the bird, Taalkar lunges with a mighty blow.

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Using Mountain Hammer and PA 3 to get reach.
ToHit: (PA 3) (1d20+7)[16]
Damage: (3d6+10)[19]
Mountain Hammer: (2d6)[9] (ignores DR)

[LordDice]

Karazi

Seeing the frenzied Hippogriff still hanging in there gives him a little hope. A quick thought and Sid attempts to fill the gap of any lost dwarves until they can be reinforced from behind.

Seeing that Taalkar is bloodied by okay for the moment, he casts a quick spell of Vigor on him and hopes for the best.

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Hippo's gonna full attack again and make himself useful
Claw 1 (1d20+6)[18]
Damage (1d4+4)[8]
Claw 2 (1d20+6)[26]
Damage (1d4+4)[7]
Bite (1d20+1)[14]
Damage (1d8+2)[8]

Grapple (1d20+11)[12]

Sid's just trying to shore up the line whereever dwarves fall, doubt you need rolls for that.

and Casting my own lesser Vigor on Taalkar, not the wand. so that'll heal up 15 hp over time.

[Mr. X]

The Avian beast screeches, swirving this way and that, its wings buffetting the charging barbarians beneath it. Staying mere inches ahead of the giant's blows, the great man overreaches himself for a moment, and the bird wheels in the air, its talons raking across the giant's throat, staggering him... But the giant recovers quickly. His massive fist snaps out, catching the bird about the neck, and brings the heavy beam down on it's head in a sickening blow...

The hippogriff goes slack as a rag doll in a child's hand...

The coming giant, somewhat smaller than the first, squeezes through the door and charges in. Dragging a massive club, he shoulders past the first giant, and smashes into Taalkar...

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Giant 1 Attacks Hippogriff:
Attack 1: (1d20+16)[30]
Damage: (2d8+7)[16]
Attack 2: (1d20+11)[31]
Damage: (2d8+7)[22]

Giant 2 Attacks
Attack 1:(1d20+16)[30]

[Mr. X]

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Giant 1 Critical Confirmation on Attack2
(1d20+11)[12]
Damage:(2d8+7)[16]

Giant 2 damage:
(2d8+7)[16]

[LordDice]

Karazi

"WHERE THE HELL IS THAT CATAPULT !!?" he shouts over the melee, watching the Summon he thought would buy some time get its face smashed in so very quickly. Pulling out another flask of acid he chucks it at the doorway.

Hollaring at Taalkar"I thought you were gonna take care of that big guy for us ...why's he still up ya slacker ?!"

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I know the catapult guy wont help for a few more rounds, just trying to add flavor. Kinda running out of fluff ideas :(
and actual combat ideas...we're gonna die horribly here. I can tell.
Ranged touch attack for the acid flask
(1d20+2)[3]
Damage (1d6)[5]

[Mr. X]

Karazi shouts and aims to hurl the flask of acid, but a stray barbarian arrow catches him mid throw, shattering the glass, and spraying the caustic fluid over his face and arm, burning him horribly.

Far behind, a horn blows, and the wall rocks with the impact of the first great stone...

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Karazi please lose 1 perminent point of Charisma, and gain a perminent +3 Circumstance Bonus to Intimidate, as the acid melts and horribly scars your face.
(This is sort of a brutal result for a botch, but I think it's appropriate. You may argue with me if you like.)

The Catapults are firing, you have 1 round to clear out of the tunnel before it collapses.

[Barthac]

For the third time today Taalkar picks himself up from the ground, clearly struggling to stand to his feet. A large stone crashes nearby as the catapults reign down death.

I think its time to fall back! MOVE! He shouts to the company and begins to withdraw to the next line of defense.

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It feels like its time to fall back to the last wall.

[LordDice]

Karazi

Burning in agony and barely able to focus he hears Taalkar call for falling back and tries to get his bearings to comply, nearly heading the wrong way before Sid gets him reoriented.

Falling back with the dwarf company to the last wall he starts to wonder if they've even got a chance in hell of surviving this.

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Just falling back as an action...I dare not throw another flask of acid. lol

[Mr. X]

At Taalkar's order, the ranks of dwarves fall back. Above stones crack and crumble, raining gravel and stones down on all those within as boulder after massive boulder smash into the wall...

... Clear of the tunnel the barbarians flood into the courtyard, even as, with a great heave, the tunnel buckles and caves in, crushing all those following behind...

The barbarians that make it through are met by a wall of steel, and quickly slain to a man.

Suddenly, a horrified shriek echos off of the West Tower... You spin around, just in time to see one of the watchmen topple over the far edge, a great serpant-thing coiled around him... The man beside him can see over the edge, and you watch his eyes fill with terror as he drops his spear and turns to flee, as another flailing thing whips over the edge. Thick as a stout dwarf, twice as long as the giant was tall, and covered in round sucker-mouths, it coils around the flee man and yanks him back over the edge, his dying scream curdling the blood in your veins...

... It is only a few moments before that section of the wall is in full retreat from the creature, as its myriad of serpant-arms drag it's horribly bloated body over the edge of the wall...

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You're at something of a crossroads here. With West Tower lost, it's only a small matter of time before you must abandon the wall entirely. If it could be retaken, there is still some hope you might hold the day, though your chances are slim... And against whatever that thing is, who knows.

Once the wall falls, however, it is no longer a question of winning, but a question of surviving and escaping. The Inner Curtain will hold for a time, but only such as to provide time for evacuation.

Either way, it's your move.

[LordDice]

Karazi

Shouting at a nearby soldier "You there, run to he east tower, tell them to get their ballasta aimed at that damned monster before it eats us all !"

Turning back towards his troops "Archers, keep it distracted, every arrow you've got...I don't care if the damn thing thinks they're bee stings, KEEP SHOOTING"

Looking around he tries to spot the sorcerer from earler finally spying him behind a rather stout dwarf "YOU, Grease the tower under it...FAST"

Pulling two archers aside he tells them to rig some flaming arrows to catch the grease on fire after the sorcerer does his thing.

Thinking for a moment he casts Babau Slime on Sid before he rushes off to attack.

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I'm thinking he's out of range of Sid in a single round...probably next round he can actually attack. I'm rapidly running out of ideas. lol

[Mr. X]

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Those are all excellent ideas. And don't forget, retreat is always an option. ;-)

Also, it's going to take you a few minutes to get to the Monster, so if there's any upkeep spells or actions you'd like to take, feel free to note them.

[Barthac]

A very injured Taalkar trots up besides his brother. Brother, he gasps, holding a large gaping wound in his side, I think your face looks better he smirks wickedly at Karazi.

I'm not saying we run away but maybe now is a time to simply stay alive, unless you got a secret army hidden in your beard

[LordDice]

Okay...perhaps I wasn't quite thinking clearly there for a moment. Although the plan is solid, it should at least distract that monstrosity long enough for us to fall back.

Hollaring over the snaps of bowstrings and generally muttering of the dwarves nearby "Keep that thing where it is, we don't want it advancing on us any. Back ranks of archers I want you to cover the soldiers coming off the wall, we need an orderly retreat to the inner wall. Spread the word...we're falling back to the inner wall !"

Realizing some sense got talked into his master, Sid comes gliding back.

Turning to Taalkar, at a lowered volume "What the hell are we gonna do on the other side of the inner wall...We're still down a mineshaft with a broken leg here.

[Mr. X]

The dwarf beside you raises his horn to his lips and lets out a loud, two note, blast. High atop the command tower one of Bejal's men returns the signal with a blast that is picked up and repeated by others all along the wall, sounding the retreat.

Those manning the towers begin falling back, retreating back across the bridges, and behind defensive lines along the far Eastern and Western walls. Before long the barbarians are flooding over the walls by the dozens.

The wall still proves a formidable obstical with the Gate Tunnel collapsed, and as troops in the courtyard fall back to the Inner Curtain, they ignite prepared charges, setting alight the winch cages that ran up and down the wall.

Suddenly, the air is torn asunder by a deafening blast as the bridges on either side of you erupt in flame and smoke, shattering and collapsing like so much kindling, showering you with splinters and cinders as at last you pull back behind the inner gate, and drop the beam across it.

[LordDice]

Karazi

Looking through the army of soldiers milling about, some just collapsed and resting with a weary look about them. Finally noticing the Captain he gestures towards him as he starts to walk over.

"How long will the inner wall hold them Captain ?...we're going to need a little time to rest and get these folks moved out. Not to mention if we can even move quickly enough to stay ahead of them.

[Barthac]

Taalkar

Taalkar looks around at the gate and the wall. Harrumph he thinks, I've been here before.

He listens intently for the captains reply.

[Mr. X]

Bejal looks grimly at the gate.

"It'll last a while... At least untill they get a workable force into the courtyard... Once they do, though, it'll fall."

He grinds his teeth, and fingers the draconic amulet at his neck...

"I think I can buy us some time, though... I had hoped that if we dealt them enough damage they would give up the assault despite their advantage. Clearly I was mistaken... Still, we've bled them badly. With luck, they'll be willing to halt the attack long enough to get our people out of here, as a condition of our surrender..."

[LordDice]

Karazi

Nodding grimly at the captains words...he thinks a moment before continuing. "Shall my Brother and I go attempt to parley then..perhaps we can gain just a bit more time. If we can get the supply train ready to move out, then getting the soldiers off the wall in an orderly retreat shouldn't take long at all."

"Another thought, do we have anymore blasting powder, could we lay the inner wall on them too and force them to have to clear that rubble to pursue us. Perhaps that would give us enough of a headstart to get to Deep Mote. If we can make it to the Mote we'll be fine, nothing gets in there that isn't let in after all."

He adds the last grinning slightly at the human.

[Mr. X]

Bejal smirks at your last comment.

"Aye, that's true enough. Hopefully it remains true."

He grimaces, listening the to cries and shouts that can still be heard from the far side of the wall.

"... I'll conduct the parlay myself. They know me here, and I doubt they'll listen to anyone else. If you're willing, I need you to to lead the evacuation.

I cleared out most the city when the army started massing, so these men are mostly all that remain. Get them out of here, either to Ork Watch or to Deep Mote, if your city will have them.

I don't think you'll be persued, as they're headed to Beluvah. Still, keep your wits about you. Ork Watch will be easier to get to, as it sits on the highway, but Deep Mote will be safer.

Send a rider when you get where you're going. With luck, I'll gleen some idea of the route they intend to take. Once they're through, people can probably start returning without worry... Hopefully."

Looking up at the gate, he checks his sword absently, before turning back to you.

"For what it's worth, I appreciate your coming. No one else did."

[LordDice]

Karazi

"Aye, I dare say you're probably better suited to that than my Brother an I...especially with his unpredictability.

Conffering with Taalkar for a moment he turns back to Bejal "We'll head to Ork Watch with everyone, hopefully we can hold out there..or if it looks bad continue on to Deep Mote"

Reaching up and claping him on the shoulder-guard "Good luck to ya man, You did as much as anyone could expect here...don't get killed being foolish after we're evacuated...we'll send word back as soon as we can"

Turning around he starts issuing orders to the dwarves nearby...getting them and the folks that were stationed here ready to move out.

[Mr. X]

Captain Bejal signals one of his aids atop the command tower, and the man moves to raise the white flag.

Along the length of the inner curtain the gesture is repeated again and again, and the sounds of fighting die down as both sides pause to take stock of the situation.

Flanked by a guardsman on either side, Bejal salutes you, and strides off through the gate, closing it behind him.

You set to work on the evacuation...

For the battle the city's guard boasted nearly two thousand men, though it was not nearly enough. Several hundred are dead, and several hundred more are wounded... Many cannot safely be moved.

Bejal planned for the possibility of defeat, and supply trains are already loaded and prepared to move, though provisions are going to be meger at best.

Among your own number, 10 were killed (including the 4 Taalkar fell upon), and 14 are wounded, though only two of them badly enough to make moving them dangerous.

Getting all the wounded loaded onto carts and moving is going to take some time, but so far all is quiet beyond the wall, so you may have it. You are going to need to decide how to deal with those who are unable to travel, however.

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Feel free to ask me to clarify specific details about this scene OOC, if you need me too.

[LordDice]

While he would prefer to save them all given the chance, he still has to take care of those who have a better shot as well. Healing up his own heavily wounded dwarves first he turns to the rest of the now refugees.

Realizing he can't spend much time on the heavily wounded he reaches into his bag and pulls out a stone cube...focusing for a moment it quickly turns into a small pot. Counting up the wounded he starts to fill the pot with pieces of gravel..a total equal to the wounded.

Pulling a bit of charcoal from a nearby fire he coats 10 pieces of gravel and tosses them in.

Somberly he walks among the wounded, pulling out a stone for each and using a charge of his wand on the lucky ones. As he pulls out the occasional blackened stone he merely hangs his head and drops the stone where they lie.

Turning to one of his dwarves he barks out a command Move those that got healed...I'll see if I can save any of the others. We need to be ready to move

Turning to those he drew the black stone for, he silently bows his head and mutters a prayer to the cold earth below.

After a few moments of silence he turns to a few of the healers still bustling around trying to ease the burdens of the wounded as they are being loaded. "It's not an easy thing I ask, but I'm asking for 2 volunteers to stay here, we'll try and move the last of these heavily wounded into a cellar and see if we can't hide them while the horde hopefully passes through...Honestly we may not be coming back for some time, we can leave you and the wounded with enough supplies for 2 weeks staying hidden, hopefully those that can recover..will be able to move by then.Pausing a moment as the weight of what he asks settles on those around.

[Mr. X]

The healers you've gathered nod grimly. Two step forward together, and older man and a girl in her late teens.

"Taryn Coalman, at your service, sirs. My daughter and I will stay with them. There's a storehouse against the South-Eastern wall where we can hide. It's well out of the way, so, god's willing, we should be safe there."

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It takes some time to get the wounded moving, but it happens. In that time, one of Captain Bejal's guardsmen returns, and informs you that the horde has agreed to wait three hours before they begin marching. At that time, the city's gates must be opened. They've agreed not to cause any 'undue' damage to the city in their passage.

Bejal has remained with them as a hostage to ensure the city's cooperation.

At length, the column is ready to move out, and your march begins. Behind, the healers pass among those few too badly injured to even make it to the storehouse, give them their final prayers, and silence them.

Fourty die, simply for the need to move...

[LordDice]

Karazi

The first hour of the march was the hardest, thinking of those left behind that didn't make it and those that couldn't be moved in the end. Promising himself he'd see these people to safety as well as he could was the only way he could keep moving.

Glancing over at Taalkar a moment only saw him similarly deep in thought, for while he was always quick to battle the losses afterwards always stuck with him for awhile.

After a few hours march and the rush of battle fading into the background he gave more thought to this evacuation. Scrounging up a bit of parchment from one of the wagons he scrawls out a note, signing it with a light rubbing of the family crest on his armor.

Calling up a Trio of mounted soldiers he hands them the folded scrap of parchment. Gesturing at 2 of them"Make for Deep Mote as quickly as you can safely get there, deliver the note* to Ironjaw of the Garrison. Go Now."

Turning to the last rider "Head for Long Road and let them know what's happening, we'll be there in a few days...tell them they need to evacuate if at all possible. We'll be there in some days if they have folks they can't evacuate, or if they want to link up with us."

Keeping on the road ahead, hoping they're making enough time to stay ahead. Stopping at Long Road they'll hook up with whomever is left, maybe resupply a bit if they left any.

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Ironjaw-
I hope you've gotten some of the missives from Citadel, but our little mission turned into a bloody nightmare. Barbarians from the north have spilled across the Way. The Citadel is lost and we're falling back with refugees. The Tribes were working together in a very coordinated way.

There was no infighting or any indication they weren't all under the same banner. Captain Bejal stated they received word of the Holy city being destroyed by demons or some such and that they fully intended to head there, crushing those in their way it seems.

We'll be stopping at Long Road on the way to Ork Watch for now, Better call up the reserves, because this isn't over by far...they'll be spilling through the Way in numbers not seen since the time of Guntur.