The Wilderness

Sheemish takes aim at a gnoll closest to Minsc. The sooner they can distract or take those down the better! Lightning arch’s from the narrow window down to the courtyard below, filling the courtyard with the scent of crispy gnoll hair.

Gnoll spear 1 takes 14 lightning damage

I run as close as I can before throwing my trusty (Dieter approved and provided) throwing axes.

Round 1 Summary

The courtyard explodes with action and war cries as the battle ensues.

The two gnolls nearest Minsc move to either side of him, flanking the muscular warrior and readying their spears. Then, snarling, they both leap at him. He catches one on his claimed spear, jabbing so fiercely with the weapon that it drives completely through the gnoll and then snaps in his hands. The other gnoll gives Minsc a nasty poke, adding to the not-insignificant wounds he's already sustained over the last two days, but he roars in the monster's face and looks around for another weapon... only to find his opponent slumping to the ground, overcome by lightning and spell. Minsc looks up toward the tower and punches his fist upward in gratitude.

Yips and snarls come from the direction of the main gate as the other band of gnolls comes into sight, sprinting on bestial paws to join the fight. At any moment they'll make it to and through the gate!

Meanwhile, arrows flit back and forth through the air, several hitting the tower and battlements where the companions ready their next attacks. Then a glowing arrow from Stella shoots forth to powerfully strike one of the gnoll archers. A handaxe soon follows as Runeson charges down the stairway from the battlements, and that archer crumples. The remaining archer ducks behind a table, then peers out to see Dieter about to cut the rope connecting the winch to the portcullis. It takes careful aim, then shoots an arrow right at the young warrior. Sharpened battle senses seem to warn Dieter, however, and he turns just in time to deflect the projectile with his shield... and then he cuts the rope.

There's an audible *snap* that causes all combatants to look towards the front gate, and then the portcullis slides closed with a heavy *whumph*. Just in time to cut off the reinforcements from joining the battle.

Minsc, in spite of his wounds, laughs heartily when he notices Stella's glowing form. "Friend Stella! You came!" He picks up another spear, knuckles tightening around the wood. "But where is my wychlaran? Where is Dynaheir?"

With only two gnolls left living in the courtyard, the party's hopes rise! But then the double-doors of the main keep burst open, and out comes a trio of heavily armed gnolls. One of them is the large female Stella's familiar observed last night. She lifts a two-handed axe high and points it at Dieter, no doubt blaming him for closing the gate. The challenge is clear; she's coming for him.

Round 2 Player Phase!!In the courtyard there are 4 zones...
Gate Zone: Dieter, Stella, Runeson
Barrel Zone: Minsc, Spear Gnoll 3
Table Zone: Bow Gnoll 2 (has cover)
Double-doors Zone: Chieftess, Veterans 1+2

Above the courtyard there are 2 zones...
Tower Zone: Sheemish
Battlements Zone: Aiwe, Imoen

Sheemish shifts his stance within the tower, observing the new threat entering the courtyard. Minsc could probably handle himself for a moment right? This new enemy should definitely be the focus now.

With stitch buzzing encouragement, Another volley of electric energy surges from the tower window hit the chieftess square in the chest.

Following Dieter's lead, I charge at the Chieftess attacking her.

HP : 36/36
AC:18

24 Damage to Gnoll Chieftess

Round 2 Summary

Dieter and the gnoll chieftess hurl themselves at each other, weapons flashing! Dieter's bladework is impressive as he scores two heavy hits on her, but through her rage she presses on through the blows and brings her axe down hard on his shield, then punches straight out with the haft of her weapon, catching Dieter straight in the face (Dieter takes 18 damage). As the young fighter reels from that nasty hit, the chieftess lunges forward with her bone-crushing jaws, clamping down on his armored shoulder (Dieter takes another 4 damage.

A flash of radiant light from Stella grazes the chieftess, but still she bites down on Dieter. With tremendous strength, she seems nearly about to lift the young man off the ground with the power of her jaws and neck alone.

Lightning rains down from on high, coursing from Sheemish's gauntlets through the air to strike the chieftess. With the smell of burnt fur filling his nostrils, Dieter can also feel a menacing growl from the chieftess vibrate through his shoulder. She still doesn't let go.

Then Runeson arrives. Leaping high, the paladin calls on the power of Hoar to smite this foe, and the morningstar in his hand shines like a beacon. He brings the weapon home right on the chieftess' head. For a moment she seems as though she almost might pull Dieter to the ground with her as she crumples, but finally her teeth slide free of his shoulder, her rage consumed by death.

The fight has not paused during this exchange, however. Minsc moves with a quickness belying his size, stepping around his gnoll opponent, then slipping the spear haft over the gnoll's head and putting strong pressure on its throat. A mighty twist follows, and the gnoll's neck snaps (Spear Gnoll 3 takes 22 damage). Minsc drops spear and gnoll both, then sprints to the pit Stella pointed out and drops into a slide, skidding over the pit's edge and into its depths.

Meanwhile, one of the gnoll veterans jabs Runeson in the side with its spear (Runeson takes 3 dmg). The other veteran hurls one spear, and then another. One of them strikes the now-useless winch, but the other sinks into Stella's starry form (Stella takes 8 piercing damage). The weight of the weapon is nearly enough to bring Stella to her knees, but she proves once again that she's made of tougher stuff than that and stays on her feet.

An arrow splinters against Sheemish's arrow slit. It's a close one, but the artificer's position remains secure. Another arrow whistles toward Aiwe, however, and punches into her just as she releases her spell (Aiwe takes 6 dmg). The battle-bard keeps her willpower intact, however, and her curse of misfortune falls successfully over one of the gnoll veterans.

Imoen, who has slipped furtively further down the battlements to a new posiiton, pops up and lets loose a skilled shot that catches one of the veterans right in the side (Vet 1 takes 13 dmg.

With the chieftess down, the two veterans and remaining gnoll archer begin to visibly waiver; any group capable of taking down their leader is surely strong enough to win against the likes of them. Still, gnoll bloodlust is a a powerful motivator, and these three gnolls stay in the fight.

But there's something else... Stella, so close to the gate, hears it first: a terrible chorus of baying, the stench of seared flesh, the screams of gnolls dying. Those monsters just on the other side of the closed portcullis quit their jeering and turn to face something behind them, something out of sight of the party.

Round 3 Player Phase!!!

The commotion at the gate reminds Sheemish that they aren’t the only ones planning on invading the keep. And they were quickly running out of time.

"Stitch! Help the hamster man!" Sheemish shouts as he takes careful aim at the next gnoll.

Always go for the largest and ugliest ones first.

The burst of lightning burns hotter this time and its impact much more intense. A blinding light, a burst of heat and rancid smoke, and not much is left of the large gnoll when the view clears.

And less enemies in the way of their retreat.

I quickly head to the gnoll veteran 2 to stike at them.

Round 3 Summary

The fight waxes poor for the gnolls. With the sun well above the horizon the temperature's been rising. The courtyard stinks of sweat and blood.

Sheemish's lightning strikes again from the tower, charring the gnoll dueling Runeson and hurling it, quite dead, against the wall of the keep.

Nearby, Stella manages to avoid her gnoll's attacks. Whether she dodged out of the way, or merely let the gnoll's weapon pass through her starry form without harm, is hard to tell. A moment later, Dieter's spear hits home and the gnoll falls, jaws snapping savagely at the spear shaft until it dies.

Within the pit, Aiwe finds Minsc gently cradling Dynaheir's quiet form. Boo seems to be nuzzling her cheek, and Stitch flutters nearby. The dark-skinned woman lives, but from the scratches and bruises she's sustained, she can't have much strength left. Aiwe's powerful healing spell surges, and Dynaheir's chocolate eyes snap open as she gasps. Minsc wastes no more time, helping his wychlaran to her feet and then up out of the pit.

The last gnoll in the courtyard, the lone archer, crouches behind its table and lets loose nervous, yipping guffaws. It lets some half-hearted arrows loose at Sheemish and Aiwe, but it's attention seems focused on the main gate, hopeful that its comrades will find a way through the barrier.

They don't. They burn instead.

Sulfuric fumes reach the courtyard as a wave of fire rolls over the gnolls outside the gate. One gnoll, half its face burned away, reaches pathetically through the portcullis bars, smoke barely hiding the forms of its burning allies. Then the gnoll is forcefully pulled away from the bars and into the smoke. It's pathetic whines turn to a bestial scream for just a moment, and then the sickening crunch of bone and more signal the end of the gnoll's life.

As the smoke begins to clear, three large canine forms can be seen tearing at the gnoll carcasses. Fire drips from their monstrous jaws, devilish horns curl back from their shaggy manes, and their eyes burn with merciless, unending flame. Hell hounds.

There's a whirl of air above the gate's parapet, and, as predicted by many of the companions, Edwin the Red Wizard of Thay teleports into view.