Subject Round 3 actions

I keep almost deciding to have Surin make off with some dragonhide, but I can't make up my mind if it's worth giving up Evasion.

Subject Round 3

Round 3 Initiative: Kal (23), Surin (20), Harp (18), Salix (12), Mund (11), Ran (9), Allistair (9), Flailtail (5), Sharpspike (5), Ragnar (5).

Kal watches as the rest of the party starts to exit the room. "Harp" he calls, "Stand with me at the door so the others can move back to safety. The elf launches another attack at the beast in front of him, his silver rapier darting in and (AC17, 10+14=22, hit, damage 12) sinking hilt deep in the creature's chest. He pulls out the bloody sword as he turns and dodges a claw. He then takes a step into the corner, Ran on one side and solid stone walls on two other sides.

Surin figures out that if the party is going to retreat, they had better have a surprise waiting for these things at the other end of the hall way. He starts hustling back to the main room. As he passes Allistair he says "Come with me. Let's set up an ambush for when the others lead them back to the main room." The halfling keeps moving.

"Ran" shouts Harp "Keep moving back. You and Ragnar will be the next line when Kal and I pull back. Get ready for them. The 1/2 orc swings at Sharpspike again, catching the large beast another solid blow (AC17, 16+11=27, damage 11). Sharpspike staggers at the blow and almost falls. Harp moves back next to Ranthir, his back to the wall.

Salix hears Harp call for the retreat. Frustrated that this will be the last strike he can make with the lightning if he moves, he calls another bolt down on Sharpspike. The bolt strikes down from the back of the room and catches Sharpspike full in the back, the creatures taking the full brunt of the bolts power (REF save, DC16, 4+7=11, fail, 15 damage.) The manticore lights up, its skeleton briefly visible through the skin, and then falls into a heap on the floor, smoke coming from its ears and mouth, it's eyes smoldering globs of jelly. The 1/2 elf then moves down the hallway at best speed.

Mund hears Harp's call for a retreat and reaches in to grab Ranthir and pull him to safety. The 1/2 elf shrugs off his grab and snarls back "There's only one left and it is hurt. I stay. And fight." With that the 1/2 elf steps forward and lunges with his blade. He bypasses the manticore's wing that tries to block him and drives the blade home (AC17, 11+11=22, hit, damage 10). With a smooth motion that reflects his improved skill with the blade, Ran spins and lands a blow on the things neck (AC17, 20+6=26, critical threat, critical threat roll, AC17, 15+6=21, critical hit, damage 13) and separates the head from the neck. Mund looks on, a bit astonished at the results of Ranthir's attack.

The others look on and Ragnar shouts down the hallway "You can come back. Ranthir finished them off."

OODM: Fight is over. What now?

Subject The consequences

Lets go open the next door!!!

No, Mark, nice, graphic combat descriptions. Pat loved it.

IC: Harp comes to a stop, his chest heaving, the roar of the manticores still in his ears. That quickly, it had ended. Ran's skill with a blade had advanced well beyond Harp's, and he had put it to good use.He hears Ragnars call to the others that the manticores were dead. Harp looks around the room, tyring to see if there were any signs of the two children Sharpspike had mentioned. Full grown adults he could handle having to kill, but children, even of creatures such as these, that would test even his mettle. As the group enters the room, he notices that there is another door at the far end of the room. What else should he have expected. Of course this would not be the end.

As the others enter, Harp and Ragnar will look to the wounds that have not been completely healed. He will ask Surin to scout the room, knowing in his heart that the little adventurer will not find anything in this room. Harp will suggest that they listen at the new door, that they heal what wounds they can with what prayers they have for the day, and that they take a peek in the new room before they go to rest in back in the main room. They had conquered the water elemental, been able to outsmart the fire elemental, and had been able to overcome these manticores. Not a bad days work in other times, but here, it was not even lunch time.

When Allistair returns, Harp will ask him for more information about Manticores, and if what they had encountered was normal.