Post by David on Jul 22, 2005 14:24:27 GMT -5
The heroes searched the ruined town, finding no bodies, but much blood and destruction. They followed the trail of whatever left the city, quickly discovering an ogre rading party dining on the grissly remains of animals and townsfolk alike. The ogres attacked in three waves: first seven healthy ogres, then two more healthy ones, then six sick ogres.
Harbinder tried to psionically take out the ogres, but instead became a spear-cushion. Were it not for Ling's aid spells, the psionist would have fallen right then and there. Herrod took on a single ogre, while several more surrounded Ling. Isaac seriously wounded one in the leg, forcing it to drop back. Flint, meanwhile, quaffed a dose of invisibility potion and attempted to sneak past and search for survivors.
Unfortunately, Harbinder quickly found herself in trouble. Flint moved to intercept an ogre and managed to kill it, despite fighting as a wizard. Then the sick ogres arrived. Herrod killed the last ogre on him, but Harbinder and Flint were sore pressed. Isaac joined the melee, giving up his bow. Meanwhile, Ling calmly fought a half-dozen ogres, dodging blows and landing her own.
One by one, the heroes whittled down the ogre forces, but not before Flint's left leg was seriously mangled. Ling and Harbinder cured it, but serious damage remained; a third of Flint's speed and agility were gone.
Meanwhile, the heroes found two surviving children among the bodies: seven year old Hamid and eight year old Fatima. The children bonded very strongly to Harbinder (who had healed them once Flint freed them) and also took a liking to Herrod. It was Herrod who calmed the pair so the party could finally rest...
In the morning, the heroes realized that the children had snuck off some time after second watch. As a result, Ling and Harbinder rode West back to the ruined town. There, the pair found nothing but the ogre corpses and hyenas feeding on them. The women slew five of the beasts and drove off the other four.
Once the party regrouped, then continued on toward the fortress. Near mid-day, they again encountered a farming community, again without inhabitants, although there was a plume of smoke rising from a central hut. Approaching, the party found themselves confronted by a village of ogres, most of them sick, but many ready to fight. The heroes battled the monsters and prevailed, although an ogress-witch escaped by flying after holding Isaac earlier in the fight. Likewise, Flint was again seriously wounded, this time his left arm slashed to the bone, then broken. But, he did manage to recall how to cast a magic missile, and killed an ogre with it.
The heroes found treasure as well as that many ogres are suffering from horsemouth. It would seem that the witch believed the fat of human children might hold a cure if drunk...
Weary, the heroes finally arrived at the fortress, only to discover that it too had come under attack, first by desert nomads, then by ogres, and finally by a desert dragon. The heroes were welcomed for disposing of the ogre menace and invited to help deal with the dragon...
Harbinder tried to psionically take out the ogres, but instead became a spear-cushion. Were it not for Ling's aid spells, the psionist would have fallen right then and there. Herrod took on a single ogre, while several more surrounded Ling. Isaac seriously wounded one in the leg, forcing it to drop back. Flint, meanwhile, quaffed a dose of invisibility potion and attempted to sneak past and search for survivors.
Unfortunately, Harbinder quickly found herself in trouble. Flint moved to intercept an ogre and managed to kill it, despite fighting as a wizard. Then the sick ogres arrived. Herrod killed the last ogre on him, but Harbinder and Flint were sore pressed. Isaac joined the melee, giving up his bow. Meanwhile, Ling calmly fought a half-dozen ogres, dodging blows and landing her own.
One by one, the heroes whittled down the ogre forces, but not before Flint's left leg was seriously mangled. Ling and Harbinder cured it, but serious damage remained; a third of Flint's speed and agility were gone.
Meanwhile, the heroes found two surviving children among the bodies: seven year old Hamid and eight year old Fatima. The children bonded very strongly to Harbinder (who had healed them once Flint freed them) and also took a liking to Herrod. It was Herrod who calmed the pair so the party could finally rest...
In the morning, the heroes realized that the children had snuck off some time after second watch. As a result, Ling and Harbinder rode West back to the ruined town. There, the pair found nothing but the ogre corpses and hyenas feeding on them. The women slew five of the beasts and drove off the other four.
Once the party regrouped, then continued on toward the fortress. Near mid-day, they again encountered a farming community, again without inhabitants, although there was a plume of smoke rising from a central hut. Approaching, the party found themselves confronted by a village of ogres, most of them sick, but many ready to fight. The heroes battled the monsters and prevailed, although an ogress-witch escaped by flying after holding Isaac earlier in the fight. Likewise, Flint was again seriously wounded, this time his left arm slashed to the bone, then broken. But, he did manage to recall how to cast a magic missile, and killed an ogre with it.
The heroes found treasure as well as that many ogres are suffering from horsemouth. It would seem that the witch believed the fat of human children might hold a cure if drunk...
Weary, the heroes finally arrived at the fortress, only to discover that it too had come under attack, first by desert nomads, then by ogres, and finally by a desert dragon. The heroes were welcomed for disposing of the ogre menace and invited to help deal with the dragon...