Assault from the ruins...

[Attilius]

Aug 25, 2021 12:59:43 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Thin, slate colored ghoulish humanoids, some small with pointed ears and of wisps of beards and others bearing more human features have poured out from a few sly alleys. They wield a motley of strange weapons. Some carry rocks and bricks. Others have lengths of wood, perhaps once timber or frames from buildings or vehicles. Others carry weapons that seem to be reclaimed from past battles with Maraneth. Bone javelins, clubs and stone hatchets.

They seem to attack in a fluid motion - as if one-minded, and then fall back to the narrow streets and doorways. It appears that sometime before you arrived, that they had damaged one of the lead wagon wheels.

[Bob, what are the numbers we're seeing? Is it several hit and run guerilla's? 50-100? or A World War Z tidal wave? If one of the two latter, we may need a battle map?]

[neujack]

(apologies for the absence. Looks like things picked up quickly when I was away.)

Baxby readies his sling and keeps pace with the others. He's not prepared for this kind of a fight, so he'll make do with the tools he's got.

He'll stay on the side of the pack, behind the front line, so he can have a clear shot at the enemies without hitting someone else. And he's ready to take a shot at the first monster that comes within short or medium range.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Valmera gets ready with a bone dagger, ready to attack, but positioned at the back, like Baxby does, nodding to the ratman

[Niachi]

Once the hordes is sighted, Mokka breaks into a feral grin.

He checks the alleys and structures if there are any potential obstacles or barriers that could be engaged to slow, impede, or channel the horde into a narrower path (stacked pottery, debris, tents, etc). Rolls for Dirty Tricks:

Rolled 18 vs 11.

With nothing apparent for now, he he will switch again to twin axes and add to the front line, eyes open to the side alleys and possible approaches from the horde.
He breaks into a happy work-whistle, like a baker kneading dough.

[DM Bob]

It is hard to tell the exact number. You might fathom there's a like number of grey assailants as to the the current number of guards.

(I never saw WW Z, but I imagine it's about as fluid, but slightly slower. Faster than Shaun of the Dead walkers; a tad slower than the gif above... but still more coordinated than the run-of-the-mill Athasian deadite.)

You have a pick of a half dozen closer targets, currently falling back into a close alleyway.

Go ahead and make initiative rolls (a d10 add weapon speed) and combat rolls. Melee is possible. The beastmaster may act in the following round with his wards.

[ascieszl]

Aug 27, 2021 13:48:12 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

The beastmaster may act in the following round with his wards.

(That's me, then?)

[Niachi]

"Amatuers..."

Mokka wades into the pack of 6 fast and gnarly undead.

modified initiative: 11.

Target: undead amateur wielding the gnarliest weapon:

First attack: +2 to attack and damage if outnumbered more than 2 to 1. Hit thaco -1  AC -1.
modified damage: 8.

Bonus attack from hawk hatchet specialization: backhand slash to another amatuer surrounding him from behind, using wing spike end:

modified attack roll 4.

Not sure how many attacks I get per round...

next attack: original target natural 20.

Damage: 11

Next round: 1 attack

[Attilius]

Hawkings, clearly out of his element, takes a defensive position towards the groups side so that any creatures trying to flank the group will be intercepted by him...

[Parry action vs. Melee attacks: AC -1]

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- 'Oh dear..' - Valmera thinks to herself as the sight of the sandstorm of undead fills her retines. She gets surprised dealing with this dilemma, even when she is not alone, even when she is holding her bone shortsword.

[OOC: This is due my kit -> "The first round of any combat, I suffer a 2-point penalty to my initiative roll, and in any location other than ruins or while on a relic hunt, I’m always surprised."]

[DM Bob]

These count as ruins. And yes, the forest cleric has been referred to as the beastmaster. Still looking for other intent and rolls. Glad I haven't missed much.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Valmera decides to sheath her short sword and takes her blowgun instead, making her loose some reaction in the combat. She waits until these get closer to the frontliners and blows two darts to one of the undead. Although with the first one she's not very lucky, she is more with her second one -'It's not much I can do..' - She thinks to herself

[OOC: Initiative 9+2(kit)-2(Dex)= 9. Blowgun (RoF 2, dmg 1, range 1/2/3. Attack 1 (11 hits 6 AC, dmg 1), Attack 2 (Nat 20, hits - 2 AC, dmg 2)]

[neujack]

Baxby lets them have it with his sling and stones. Let's see if I can support Mokka by aiming for ones waiting their turn to take a shot at him.

(initative: 4 (-3 dex +6 sling)= 7, Attack roll: 13 (+3 dex)=16, range 4/8/16, damage 4)

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Calidane wings his throwing stick out at the attackers. It flies in an arc, misses the mob, and comes back to his hand.

(( Initiative total 11, rolled 7 to attack; boomerang misses and comes back. ))

[DM Bob]

Round One:

While the caravan continues it's barrage of arrows, you notice one thing. These grey foes do not drop easily. If fact, the one that Moktli has engaged (a smaller bearded one clutching a spiked bone club) somehow still stands after the dwur's double axe hits. The slashing blade seems to be doing proper damage, but the skin is tough and leathery. It turns to the dwarf and hisses, white, blank eyes somehow still burning with rage. It responds with a club smash that glances off Moktli... the force of the blow being considerable. He's thankful it wasn't a direct hit. (4 damage to Moktli)

No others have completely fallen, but seem to be retreating to the alleys and streets to the north end of the thoroughfare.

Voi, the other dwur and scion of Maraneth, cuts deep into another of the retreating greys, having much better luck than Moktli. While his foe stands, it's only because he cut down over his head and into the fell grey from right shoulder to ribcage.

The sling stones and darts do little to harm a third combatant, and it continues to vanish out of sight.

[Next round intent, initiative and rolls if needed. I will try to get a map up in the next day or so, but I'm a bit tapped out. Theater of the mind for now.]

[ascieszl]

Ibubesi will return to the group, moving to the front/mid-front (not necessarily the absolute front line, not the middle of the group). The Kirre will be to either side of him and he will instruct one Kirre to "Guard." and one to "Stay, Push" motioning to the undead that Moktli had it, if possible (Project Force psionic power, rolled a Nat 1, 1d6+AC dmg).

Ibubesi himself will call upon the power of the Forest and command some of the undead to "Stop and hold for judgment of the Forest Herself!" (Rebuke Undead, I'm lvl 3, rolled a 16 on my Rebuke).