> It's a dwarf thang, you wouldn't understand.
??

>1 warhorse with military saddle, bit, bridle (replaces what was lost)
>100' silk rope, grappling hook (replaces what was lost)

Dude, this sense of entitlement is impressing no one. Dru in principle deserves a thunderstone, but I reckon she's happy to have the spell book in trade. Alonzo had his health, and has sacrificed it for the team. I've lost 3 of my 9 or so lives. Accept the losses.

By the way, I'd like one of the military saddles (and harness and tack that goes with it - I wouldn't be caught dead with nonmatching horse gear) when we get back to my home -- if we're gonna do more riding, having something that keeps me from falling off the thing might be a good idea.

I'm pretty sure I've got plenty of room to carry the gold and stuff -- being weighed down (to Medium) makes hardly any difference to me (one more Armor Check penalty), and I don't have heavy armor to start with, as Linnam pointed out. I'd need 25 lbs. or so (at least) to get to medium, and I can carry another 77 lbs. or so from there before I hit heavy. I think, therefore, that I can even carry the copper pennies (every little bit helps.) Spade will have to sit on top of the coins, but he can pretend he's a little furry dragon.

As far as ranged attacks go, I'm not half bad, and I figure it's a better idea if I sneak up close to throw one, rather than Dru, considering how well her most recent "sneak up close" attempt went. (And she can be throwing fireballs from a distance, or something.)

I'll be more in-character and chatty tomorrow, but I'll summarize what Barik says here: he's very happy to see Holdek and to hear that Ulfgar made it back. The Massacre was indeed a doozy. He introduces the party and tells Holdek about the crummy hobgoblins and their budding entrepreneurship. I assume Kinvol is in Argunn Lode, and Barik assures Holdek he'll see him first thing.

And on the way toward the tower, Barik suggests that (like Linnam says) y'all follow his lead. Since I'm the "host", this should seem perfectly natural to Alonzo, at least. Barik also says that introductions and gaining passage will probably be informal and easy here at the tower, (especially when he sees people he knows), but that entering the town proper will be a more complicated affair, and will probably be mostly in Dwarven; Barik will act as interpreter, and indicate what people should do when.

posted by Scholeologist at 1/16/2004 07:59:00 PM

"I think a thunderstone each to Linnam and myself, and the Alchemist's Fire as well, and oil for it to light. Cricket Leaping to Linnam, at least for now -- I am no great jumper, though I mean to study the skill from some of the athletes in Argunn Lode when we get there."

I'm not going to be able to post again until considerably later in the day, unfortunately, although it should still be early evening for you guys.
posted by Scholeologist at 1/16/2004 07:58:00 AM

I'm clearly still short on caffeine this morning. Does that mean Alonso drinks the cure moderate wounds potion? Also, is it Alonzo or Alonso, and does it matter?

Here's Barik's comments, for what it's worth:

"I daresay that" - and here I clang together the blades of my axes - "no raiding party would dare molest the road any closer to Argunn Lode than this one. In our current state, we must hope we can make it to Argunn Lode and restore ourselves, before heading after the orc-shaman. I am sure that once there, Alonso can arrange for succor from the disciples of Moradin's Temple. Horses, on the other hand, are unlikely to be had in Argunn Lode -- my riding horse, Lightfoot, is an oddity there, and even the work horses, which are unrideable, are not as common as in Two Towers. If we find we need horses, we'll have been better off saving Proudapple's mount now, than combing the stables of Merchantman's Way."

Comments about potions and resources shortly, after I look up how much of each item we have...
posted by Scholeologist at 1/16/2004 05:48:00 AM

What fun are they then? Digging them up and yelling at them seems, y'know, morbid. :)
posted by Scholeologist at 1/15/2004 12:14:00 PM

Dude, you were the one that wanted to keep the horse alive. :)
posted by Scholeologist at 1/15/2004 10:54:00 AM

"Indeed, we will have to deal with this Black Hand. But he has taken no prisoners, threatens no dark rituals, and has not yet made war on two kingdoms. Unfortunately, we have many threats to contend with, and though he fought fearsomely, Bohkat is not the most dire. We must regroup at Argunn Lode, and find out what we can about the orcish fiend, to have any hope of rescuing the Duke's children. They are our first priority. Killing Taur'egk is second. And Bohkat comes somewhere after that."
posted by Scholeologist at 1/15/2004 10:53:00 AM

Cool. I do that offering the mug and what do elves drink thing now. :)
posted by Scholeologist at 1/15/2004 07:12:00 AM

Excellent. I was thinking of pulling the "look, kill us and we rise again!" thing, but I wasn't sure if the hobgoblin knew about healing potions and stuff...

If I can get off a bow shot (with a normal arrow), I do. (If I miss and we can recover the arrow as we continue north, I do that too.) That might take me finding my bow, so I suspect he'll get a good head start by then, but what the heck. As the hobgoblin runs away, I yell after him "Well met, Bohkat! Barik the Deathless is eager to face you again! Strike me down, and I rise again; you will die but once! I shall dog your heels the rest of your short life, Black Hand!"

I _so_ love having a blood enemy. :)

I don't care about the other goblins, but if we're picking them off, I'll do that too. (Oh, and I _so_ want some of those shortbow arrows Kray got.) I will call out to save one, though, and I chase down one of the blind goblins to question (well, for Drusilla to question) -- now I've gotta find out about this Bohkat fella. :)

Away from the bound goblin prisoner, I take Drusilla up on her offer -- "Indeed, I am most curious what drink elves favor." I offer my mug for her to pour some of the good stuff in.

Let's distribute some booty, honor some dead, and move on down the road -- I'm homeward bound. "In other circumstances, I'd like to track this Bohkat, but we have more pressing concerns. If we see where he leaves the main road, I'll make a note of it for later. To Argunn Lode, now, and may we encounter no more would-be toll-takers to slow us down." Barik's pretty pleased for a guy who's been at death's door daily for half a week. :)
posted by Scholeologist at 1/15/2004 06:20:00 AM

It suddenly occurs to me that sending one of us at a time to fight a guy with 4 attacks/round (counting the horse) isn't the cleverest strategy. Can the hobgoblin charge me? If I can throw an axe at him, pick up the waraxe, and end up behind cover so that he can't charge me, further than 5' away so he can't full attack me either, I do that. (I figure there's piles of dead things around, I should be able to interpose one of them between me and him.) Hopefully, this'll give LInnam and Bishop a clear shot at him for a round, and Grell should be coming out of the clubhouse any time now.

"You're not very bright, are you? Exactly what are you going to do now? You've got a couple of goblins left; your puppies are dead, and my buddies are just playing target practice with you."
posted by Scholeologist at 1/14/2004 08:42:00 AM

I'm confused about the initiative order, but that's probably nothing new. And I think I'm affronted that Bishop sees my role as preoccupying the hobgoblin until Grell comes out to finish him off, after the dwarves have softened him up.

So, am I correct in thinking that the worg and the blind rider that were attacking me were who Bishop kilt? And the other two got killed (probably by Bishop) before? So the only bad guy left in the immediate vicinity is the hobgoblin?

How far away is he? Can I see my waraxe? Am I clear to charge the hobgoblin?
posted by Scholeologist at 1/14/2004 05:49:00 AM

Can you get Improved Critical? In the 3.5e PH, it says you need a BAB of +8. I think you should get Precise Shot, so you could help take down this hobgoblin. :)

I'm thinking Cleave (I know, I'm slow on the draw...), or maybe Weapon Specialization. Self-sufficient would make me a tracking fiend, although I've no reason to think that would actually be useful. I could always Skill Focus on Climb, in a futile effort to be the best climber in the party... :)
posted by Scholeologist at 1/13/2004 11:31:00 AM

>she pulls the healing oil from him and gives him just enough to get him back on his feet.

Lady, you do realize that Grell has like 4 potions of healing, and the hobgoblin's passing out 20 point hits? I'd be much happier flanking him with Alonzo if I knew I could take a hit and not _actually die_. If, by the way, this is all successful and Dru gets me back to conscious, I smile and say "Thanks to you! It seems the favor is returned!" (Assuming I'm less than 12 hp,) I then take the oil and give myself another rub, and (assuming I'm up around 17+ hp) hand it back to her. "You may need this again soon, for you, for me, for someone else...who knows?" I then get up and (I think this would be the round after next, since that's a lot of healing and getting up and stuff) enter the fray (against the hobgoblin) again. I'll draw my throwing axe as well. If I can, I'll charge him; once I'm in melee, I'll attack with both axes. (If I last that long.)

>"...he seems to suffer the brunt of things. His heart is stout and his arm is mighty but his armor is as thin as mine..."

Such is the life of the (light-armored) tank...

>The goblin draws his weapon, and in a move learned from years of practice the goblin and worg become one fighting machine,

A half-blind fighting machine. I'm surprised the goblin didn't decapitate the worg trying to get on him. Maybe he'll land a few blows on the hobgoblin too.

>Magic goodies from the Twin Towers were given to Grell, and as far as I know he still has all of it.
Speaking of which, do we have any of that delicious booty from Barrs and the orcs, or did Kray take all of it? Some of us are dirt poor, not having had a tasty haul from the OIB...and we dwarves don't like being dirt poor... :)


posted by Scholeologist at 1/13/2004 11:15:00 AM

Something about this situation reminds me of something Drusilla said -- what was it? Oh yeah -- ow.


posted by Scholeologist at 1/12/2004 09:57:00 AM

posted by Scholeologist at 1/12/2004 09:44:00 AM

Hm. Glassy-eyed goblin -- he's on drugs! No, he's an animated undead goblin from Taur'egk! Or maybe he's gone into a barbaric frenzy!
Or he could just be whacked out by Dru's color spray. I kinda like the drugs idea though.

I have a question. Did the worgrider drop his lance, like he would if he were stunned? If not, it's definitely the drugs...or something...

I drop my bow, draw my waraxe, and (with both hands) power attack the worgrider, aiming to do 3 more points of damage if I hit than usual. Even if he's a PCP fiend, he won't fight if his head's separated from his body.

Just in case someone's got a better clue than me (I still think it's the drugs), I shout out "What devilry is upon this mindless creature? Is his numbness to pain the effect of your blinding spray, elfmaid? Come, Alonzo! Fresh worgflesh!"
posted by Scholeologist at 1/11/2004 06:42:00 PM

posted by Scholeologist at 1/11/2004 05:46:00 PM