[3.5][Nostalgia] Kill Bargle

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to have Grobnar move 5 feet west and ready his crossbow at the gap.

[angelfromanotherpin]

We're not currently in combat time, so you can specify a general course of action. Keeping a shot readied to fire at the breach will occupy your standard actions for as long as you're doing that, but you can still move towards a specific destination, examine specific things, or anything else that doesn't use a standard.

[Beroli]

Vorbar considers the gate. "Someone knows we're here. Either we break it down, or we look for another way in."

[Thaluikhain]

Norba moves around the south of the fallen gates, and looks towards the crack in the wall to the west.

[angelfromanotherpin]

Grobnar nudges his steed to stand on the monster's corpse for elevation and takes aim at the western breach. Vorbar examines the closed gates, which are in considerably better shape than the fallen ones, although still somewhat degraded – it might just be possible that Norda's phenomenal strength is equal to the task of breaking them. Norda maneuvers for a view through the breach, and Lodin skulks closer as well to peer inside. Within the wall, the breach is obstructed by a mound of rubble that presumably used to be the missing section of wall. Beyond it, more rubble is strewn in the courtyard, and the corner of the ruined keep is visible. It looks as though the upper levels of the keep are completely collapsed.

[JourneymanN00b]

Grobnar decides to accompany Lodin, and follows 10 feet behind him with his crossbow at the ready.

[Thaluikhain]

Norda moves up, ready to interpose herself between danger and more fragile team-members.

[Beroli]

Vorbar steps up behind Norda. "Tricky footing...watch for pits."

[angelfromanotherpin]

Lodin creeps into the courtyard, which holds many more piles of rubble, hugging the western wall. Grobnar trails him, but as soon as the bard emerges from behind the breach's obstructing mound, he is struck twice by hurled stones. Hurled, apparently, by two small reptilian humanoids crouching behind one of the stony piles. Norda dashes forward over the debris, putting herself in the line of fire.

All PCs except poor Grobnar (at 13/19 hp and presumably dazed by the impacts) have a turn before the enemy act again.

[Beroli]

Vorbar waits for Norda to move; if she moves forward he hurries behind her. "Cover," he mutters.

[Thaluikhain]

Norda charges at the enemy, yelling "Surrender or die!"

[angelfromanotherpin]

Norda charges off the rubble pile and is met with a veritable hail of stones, as several more of the beings reveal themselves. A couple of the missiles find gaps in her armor and bruise her. Norda brings her axe down on her target, who crashes lifeless to the ground. Lodin hustles to the corner of the ruined keep and takes cover there. Vorbar struggles over the pile of shifting debris.



The reptilian humanoids maneuver for position, launching more missiles at Norda and Vorbar, both of whom suffer minor injuries.

We are now in the PCs go > Enemies go configuration, so all players must act before the foes get a turn.
(Heads up, Norda cannot currently charge any visible enemies due to the intervening difficult terrain of the rubble.)

[JourneymanN00b]

Grobnar spots some fine sand among the rubble pile. Sensing an opportunity to even the odds, he grabs a handful of the fine sand with his left hand while holding his crossbow with the other, and attempts to cast a Sleep spell.

(The target of the spell will be at the enemy that is 12 squares east and 4 squares north of Grobnar. If my math is correct, it should be within range and the area should engulf at least 4 enemies.)

[Beroli]

Vorbar moves toward the nearest enemy who is still awake after Grobnar's spell.

(I believe he would be able to close with one of them but not actually attack if it wasn't difficult terrain but will wind up somewhere in the midground as it is.)

[Thaluikhain]

Norda runs east and the north so she has her left side directly against the wall as she approaches the enemy, still yelling at them to surrender.

[angelfromanotherpin]

An unnatural breeze springs up, that disturbs neither grass nor leaf, but is felt upon the skin, and carries the sparkling sand from Grobnar's palm into the eyes of four of the reptilians, who first droop and then drop. The other companions hustle towards the enemies, but cannot reach them in time to strike them. The scaly folk fall back, slinging as they go, but while their stones ring breastplate and helm alike, they deal no meaningful harm.

Your turns again.

[Thaluikhain]

Norda steps forward to strike at the enemy in front of her, but is wary of going past the end of the wall.

[Beroli]

Vorbar moves to the nearest sleeping enemy to ruthlessly dispatch them.

If Lodin is waiting for one of the players to direct him, then he will do the same.

[JourneymanN00b]

Grobnar moves towards his comrades and calls out to them, “Take the sleepers alive. I’d love to be able to wring out as much information from these freaks before we dispose of them.” He then takes aim and fires a cold iron crossbow bolt at the nearest enemy who is awake.

(I have no idea if knocking out enemies and interrogating them is allowed in this adventure, but if it is not, then I will just have Grobnar just fire at any awake enemy in range after moving closer to his allies.)

[angelfromanotherpin]

Norda's axe fells one enemy and Grobnar's bolt another. Vorbar's morningstar splashes the head of one of the sleepers. The remainder turn and flee, heading east and north around the side of the keep. Lodin approaches another of the sleepers and begins rearranging their own clothing to restrain them.

[JourneymanN00b]

Grobnar rides over and goes to restrain the two remaining sleepers in the same way as Lodin does. After that, he quickly scans the area for any awake enemies.

(If there are no other monsters in the immediate area after that, I will also have Grobnar have his comrades drag the three sleepers to the south gates to begin the interrogations.)

[Thaluikhain]

Norda keeps watch, and withdraws to the south gates if no other enemies turn up.

[Beroli]

Vorbar frowns after the reptilian humanoids and moves to the south gates with the others.

(Who is how badly injured?)

[JourneymanN00b]

Grobnar begins the interrogation by waking up one of the sleepers, and communicates the following message: "The only reason you are alive right now and not dead like your friends is because of the goodness of my heart. In return for your lives, I would like you to tell me everything there is to know about the layout of Castle Mistamere. You can either start by telling us where Bargle resides, the quickest way to get there, and any traps that are present along the way. If you do not, you will join your friends in the hellish afterlife that awaits you. Be warned. If you should lie, your trip to the afterlife will be a painful one."

[angelfromanotherpin]

Since there is no pursuit of the retreat, we are back out of combat time.
Norda is at 21/28 hp, Vorbar at 18/21, Grobnar at 13/19, and Lodin at 15/17.

The prisoners are dragged to the south gate in their improvised bonds. Grobnar's threats are met with apparent indifference by the woken reptiloid, who only cocks its head and blinks quizzically.