In the Hall of the Mountain King

[Brian]

<Brian> In short order, the men are assembled on the courtyard, about three thousand keep defenders, and the same number of assorted Storm-riders, with more standing in the wings, ready to charge in if required.
Nathan looks around for Alec.
<Brian> Alec is, as always, right behind Nathan.
Ginrai checks who else is on the tower with him
Nathan was just making sure. Yup.
<Brian> Lammermore is standing at the lead of the formation -- for a change, Ekim is standing nearby, his arms crossed over his chest as he surveys the battle-ready men.
Dracos tries to position himself close to Nathan and Bjorn if possible.
<Brian> There's not much time for questions, though, as men run to grab shields, and the gates ponderously crank open.
Bjorn takes up his place at the front of the formation, next to Lammermore, and blinks at Ekim. "Lord Ekim?"
<Brian> He nods at you, and moves to stand out of the way, by the side of the gate.
<Brian> "Let's go," Lammermore says grimly, as the moon sets.  He begins to pace forward at the same time it dips below the towering mountain range that stands above the keep.
Nathan waves a salute to Ekim as they go past.
Bjorn studies Ekim, but paces Lammermore and moves forward.
<Brian> The dwarf nods again at Nathan, his face splitting into a menacing dwarven grin.  "Luck be with all," he rumbles.
<Bjorn> "Luck," Bjorn says, distantly and quietly so that almost no one else can hear him, "will not be needed."
Nathan grins and nods to Ekim as they go past.
<Brian> After a few steps, and some rearangement, a contingent of six thousand men is outside the earthenworks, prepared to fight for the safety of the world.
<Nathan> "It never hurts to have, though," Nathan notes quietly as they leave the gate.
<Brian> Ginrai!  We now switch to you, since you've got the better viewpoint from the towertop.
<Brian> Today, your tower is being shared with Devin, and no one else.
<Ginrai> So, what can I see of the Dreadmarch army?
<Brian> Well, from what you can see, a group of orcs, ogres, and the occasional troll is rushing forward, towards the Earthenworks.  The trebuchets wake up behind you, and fling small clay pots of burning pitch across the battlefield -- great fun for all -- but the lorekeepers are holding back, saving their worst for the Jotun which have not yet entered the field.
<Brian> The archers are waiting for the Dreadmarch to get into range.  You can probably hit the main Dreadmarch charge with your lightning spell before the Jotun enter the field.
<Brian> You can hear -- distantly -- shattering clay pots and screams of rage and pain.
Ginrai decides to deal with the front of the charge then
<Brian> Okay.  Go ahead and make your to-hit roll.
<Ginrai> roll 3d6 to see how powerful this will be.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ginrai ... : 3d6 to see how powerful this will be. --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> That's a direct hit -- congratulations, your 60 meter wide attack spell has struck a charging army.
<Brian> Now go ahead and roll your damage.
<Ginrai> roll 2d6 to see how powerful this will be.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ginrai ... : 2d6 to see how powerful this will be. --> [ 2d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> The initial zap doesn't seem to phase the charging forces, but it's targeted, so you can let the spell go wild, now.
<Ginrai> roll 3#2d6 to go wild
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ginrai ... : 3#2d6 to go wild --> [ 2d6=11 ]{11}, [ 2d6=5 ]{5}, [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> The Dreadmarch pretty much ignores the initial surge, which makes the next deafening crack of electricity that much more devastating when it comes, writhing through the outlying orcs and ogres, and leaving nearly a hundred of the Dreadmarch lying prone.
<Brian> At this point, the Dreadmarch has reached the Earthworks -- the archers go into action, and the Jotun take the field again.
Ginrai gets his shield spell ready.
<Brian> Okay.  Go ahead and make your activation roll to raise the shield.
<Brian> You have a -8 penalty to your roll.
<Brian> Which is 16+INT/5.
<Ginrai> roll 3d6 and hope the shield can come up.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ginrai ... : 3d6 and hope the shield can come up. --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> The spell comes easily and a glowing barrier of force one third the width of the keep is raised in the sky before the gate-area -- and importantly, it's shielding the men below from Jotun-flung boulders.
<Brian> Which are being launched by the (again) 20 Jotun now.
<Brian> roll 10#3d6
<Brian> roll 10#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 10#3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=14 ]{14}, [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=7 ]{7}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 10#3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}, [ 3d6=11 ]{11}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=16 ]{16}, [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=16 ]{16}, [ 3d6=12 ]{12}, [ 3d6=6 ]{6}, [ 3d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> A good number of the rocks fail to land remotely near the defenders.
<Brian> Two of them slam into the walls, bouncing off ineffectually.
<Brian> Eight hit Ginrai's energy shield.  The rest just go across the battle-field without doing anything.
<Brian> roll 12#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 12#1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> The rocks hit the shield, roll up its incline a short distance, stop, and then roll backwards, slamming into the Earthworks (and splattering a few Dreadmarch rushers) quite messily.
<Brian> Ginrai, you're now going to be operating as a speed 1, which is going to reduce your total END spent per round to 24.
<Brian> You're recovering 10 END per turn, so you can hold the shield for about ten minutes before you pass out.
<Brian> Now.
<Brian> Mortal defenders, shielded by the benevolent hand of Ginrai the defender.
<Nathan> BRB!
<Brian> You can hear Dreadmarch minions screaming in the Earthworks as arrows and boulders rain on them.
<Brian> The archers are firing through the gap beneath Ginrai's shield, and the boulders land pretty much on top of it.
Bjorn unsheathes his swords, and waits impassively. "Forgot to ask Ekim about my the katana," flickers briefly through his mind.
<Brian> After a good minute, maybe two, of this, the Earthenworks waver, and collapse into the ground, the Jotun-flung boulders rolling away across the battlefield towards the Dreadmarch.
<Brian> You're not sure why the Earthenworks are gone -- there's no General in sight.  But there's four Jotun that are lumbering forwards with clubs.
<Brian> And a number of other random minions.
<Bjorn> "We planned for this," Bjorn raises his voice.  "Storm-riders forward!"
<Brian> These particular Jotun don't seem to be hindered in any way -- the others across the field are either on fire (and thrashing about madly) or sealed in ice.
<Brian> At your command, the Storm-riders surge forward, the fire of the archers peeling away to stay clear of them.
<Bjorn> Leading by example, Bjorn charges with them, moving to engage the nearest Jotun.
<Brian> We'll enter combat time here.
Nathan charges with Bjorn, obviously.
Dracos matches Bjorn stride for stride, moving to get past the jotun and aiming for the back of it's legs.
<Brian> Okay.
Nathan -will- move-by a dreadmarcher on the way if I get the chance, though!
<Bjorn> As he runs, Bjorn looks back over his shoulder to make sure the rest of the plan is being followed -- that the Keepers have moved forward to fill in the shield wall, and the rest of the troops are holding position until the Jotun have been stopped.
<Brian> It's going to be phase 0.  Everyone has a held action except for Rez.
<Brian> The Jotun is going to act first, since it's got reach, and waits when it sees hero-types approaching it.
<Brian> Nathan: Roll for your move-by.
<Nathan> roll 3d6 for smackDown!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 3d6 for smackDown! --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Okay.  Roll for transfer.
<Nathan> roll 4d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 4d6 --> [ 4d6=17 ]{17}
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> The Jotun is going to attempt to swing with its club, effectively trying to hit everyone.
<Bjorn> Um.
<Bjorn> What are my options?
<Bjorn> Or, in other words: can I block?
<Brian> You can TRY.
<Nathan> Who's going to be hit first by the sweep?
<Brian> From where you are, Phil is going to be hit first, then Lammermore, then Bjorn, then Alec, then Nathan.
Bjorn will not attempt to block.
<Brian> Who's diving for cover?
Dracos drops to the ground, trying to stay under the club.
<Brian> Everyone who is, make your dive-for-cover roll.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for dive to cover methinks.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for dive to cover methinks. --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> You throw yourself to the ground.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for Lammermore
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for Lammermore --> [ 3d6=16 ]{16}
Nathan will stand up and block the thing - if it gets near me, which I am starting to doubt.
<Brian> Lammermore trips over Phil, and doesn't make it to the ground in time.
<Brian> roll 3d6 to hit
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 to hit --> [ 3d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> Lammermore is hit.
<Brian> roll 12#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 12#1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> Lammermore takes a hit, and goes flying into a group of Storm-riders that's fighting a quartet of trolls.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for Alec's dive.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for Alec's dive. --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Alec hits the turf.
Bjorn waits for the club to get near him, and then prepares to hit the ground, planning to roll back to his feet.
<Bjorn> 4 points to DfC, 2 points to Breakfall.
<Brian> I need two rolls -- a DfC first, though.
<Bjorn> roll 3d6 DfC
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 DfC --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Bjorn> roll 3d6 Breakfall
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 Breakfall --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> You hit the ground and pop back up easily.
Nathan grits his teeth and brings his blade around to try and smash the club.
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> Make your block roll.
<Nathan> roll 3d6 for block-fu
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 3d6 for block-fu --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> Your block will succeed IF you can destroy the weapon with your transference.
<Nathan> roll 4d6 for Trans-FER!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 4d6 for Trans-FER! --> [ 4d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Otherwise, you're going to help Lammermore fight those trolls.
<Brian> The club splinters, but the backlack knocks you flat on your ass.  On the otherhand, there's now a cloud of sawdust raining down like confetti all over the place.
<Brian> The flash of light from the destruction of the tree draws eyes from across the battlefield.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> And the Jotun falls backwards, unable to balance with the club suddenly vanishing.
<Brian> Meanwhile, however, you've got bigger issues to contend with -- specifically, there's an armored dwarf breaking free of the ranks and bee-lining towards Nathan.
<Brian> The Dreadmarch raises a huge rallying cry at this sight, and he skids to a halt about ten meters away putting one hand out as though in a gesture of peace.
<Brian> The orcs, Jotun, and trolls all back away, leaving the three of you (and Alec) in the center of a large circle.
Dracos gets to his feet as soon as possible.
Nathan stands up, faintly surprised he's still alive, and eyes the dwarf curiously.
<Brian> Everyone's uncertain, as the Dreadmarch falls into a defensive posture, and the Storm-riders and keep-dwellers pull back to see what their enemies are up to.
<Nathan> "Estin Stonewright, I presume?"
<Brian> "Yes.  A duel!" Estin yells.  "Your best, versus me, and no others shall battle!"
<Dracos> "One on one?  Or our group here versus you?"
<Brian> Now that you can all see Estin up close, you can see he's well armored.  Probably as well as Ekim, and his skin is the same -- looks like stone.  Now that you are closer, however, you also notice two other things.  Estin's eyes burn, like Ekim's, but they're blue, instead of red.  Also, this guy's about a half a meter taller, and way more muscular than Ekim.
Nathan raises an eyebrow at this.
<Brian> "All of you," he says, lowering his hand, and unlimbering his great axe.
<Nathan> "Wasn't that going to happen anyway?" Rez quips.
<Bjorn> Bjorn says nothing, but falls into mugamae, and begins circling Estin, moving around behind him.
<Brian> Estin grins.  "That was my greatest hope," he says in a voice as deep and grating as Ekim's.
<Dracos> Dracos smiles.  "Sounds good to me.  Get down to business right along."  Dracos moves a bit away from Rez, without moving too close to Bjorn.
<Nathan> "Then answer me one question before we start, Estin."
<Brian> "What's that?" he asks, cracking his neck loudly.
<Nathan> Nathan raises his blade. "What DID convince a dwarf and an Archon to lead the Dreadmarch against us, anyway?"
<Brian> "An agreement that humans are too weak to be forged anything respectable," he says, spitting.  "Those weapons were not made by you -- they were made by others for you.  You lack the strength and the will to create your own future, and instead borrow from us, and from the Archonae, without giving anything in return.
<Brian> "You are parasites, I intend to purge this world of you."
<Nathan> "Then perhaps we'll teach you the error of your ways."
<Nathan> "Shall we?"
Dracos laughs.
<Brian> Estin takes up a battle-ready stance, the axe held up and ready to strike down at you.
<Brian> "Wait," someone calls from the edge of the circle.
<Brian> Estin looks over, and raises an eyebrow, as Lammermore staggers into the circle, a nasty cut over one eye bleeding into it.  "You'll not count me out," he growls.
<Brian> "Enough," Estin says, shaking his head.  "We begin!"
<Brian> With that, he charges Nathan.
<Brian> It's phase 0, everyone is considered to have a held action (except for Estin, who is attacking).
Nathan steps back and attempts to block.
<Brian> Go ahead and make your roll.
<Nathan> roll 3d6 for block-fu!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 3d6 for block-fu! --> [ 3d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for dwarven attackery
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for dwarven attackery --> [ 3d6=16 ]{16}
<Brian> Your sword is as light as a feather, and effortlessly wards off the axe, which you think should have the ponderous weight of a Buick.
<Brian> Make your transference roll.
<Nathan> roll 4d6 for transference.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 4d6 for transference --> [ 4d6=19 ]{19}
<Brian> A large chip is carved from the axe -- but it does not break.
<Brian> Next in DEX order is Dracos.
Dracos charges forward, aiming for the dwarf's back while he's attacking Nathan, bringing his sword around hard.
Nathan raises an eyebrow, back-stepping again.
<Dracos> Points to DC.
<Brian> Go ahead and make your attack roll, Drac.
<Dracos> Roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Dracos> roll 3d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6+1 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{14}
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your stun multiplier, which is 1d6+1.
<Dracos> roll 1d6+1 for Even a dwarf feels this.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 1d6+1 for Even a dwarf feels this. --> [ 1d6=6 ]{7}
<Brian> You've Dazed Estin.
<Brian> Bjorn, it's now your action.
Bjorn steps in, taking opportunity of Estin's sudden stagger to deliver as vicious a strike as he can.
<Bjorn> 6 Points to DC.  Martial Strike.  Holy damage, NND.
<Bjorn> OCV 10.
<Bjorn> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Bjorn> roll 2d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 2d6+1d3 --> [ 2d6=3 1d3=1 ]{4}
<Brian> Unfortunately, for all that he's a sadistic and asshollish monster, he does not appear to be unholy.
<Brian> Next, segment 3, speed fours.
<Brian> Estin recovers from being stunned, and shakes his head clear.
<Brian> Bjorn: Your action.
<Bjorn> 'Wait,' Bjorn thinks to himself, 'what was it Paul said....  Ice.'
<Bjorn> Letting the cold of his calm spread through him down into the swords, Bjorn moves in and strike again, this time aiming more precisely.
<Bjorn> 2 to DC, 4 to OCV.  OCV 14, NND Cold damage.
<Bjorn> Martial strike.
<Bjorn> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Brian> Go ahead and make your damage roll.
<Bjorn> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{8}
<Bjorn> roll 1d5
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 1d5 --> [ 1d5=1 ]{1}
<Brian> Estin grunts, and spins to face Bjorn, turning his back to Nathan.
<Brian> Segment 4, speed 3s.
<Brian> Nathan and Lammermore act in this round.
<Brian> Lammermore after Nathan.
<Nathan> Nathan flicks his gaze to Lammermore and jerks his head towards Estin, stepping to the side to give Lammermore room to move in, raising his own sword to strike as he does so.
<Brian> Lammermore nods at Nathan, keeping his eyes on Estin, and draws back for a powerful hit.
<Brian> And ... Lammermore is going to haymaker.
<Brian> So in dex order, we then come to ... Dracos.
<Nathan> Noting what Lammermore is up to . . . Nathan aims to do the same.
Dracos pulls his blade along, preparing a haymaker, combat points to OCV.
<Brian> Okay.  Segment 5, haymakers are going to land.
<Brian> Everyone first rolls to coordinate.
<Dracos> roll 3d6 coordination
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 coordination --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for Lammermore's teamworkness.
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for Lammermore's teamworkness. --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Nathan> roll 3d6 for shining FORCE!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 3d6 for shining FORCE! --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> Okay.  Now everyone gets to make their attack rolls.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for lammermore's attackness
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for lammermore's attackness --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for I bring the pain
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for I bring the pain --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Nathan> roll 3d6 for ULTRA COMBO!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 3d6 for ULTRA COMBO! --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> Everyone hits.
<Brian> Let's roll damage separately to keep things neat.
<Brian> Nathan, you go first.
<Nathan> roll 3d6+1d3 for Haymaker WHAM!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 3d6+1d3 for Haymaker WHAM! --> [ 3d6=14 1d3=3 ]{17}
<Brian> Roll for your Stun.
<Brian> Your stun multiplier is 1d6+1.
<Nathan> roll 1d6+1 for Stunning Mupltiptipililication
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 1d6+1 for Stunning Mupltiptipililication --> [ 1d6=6 ]{7}
<Brian> Dracos, make your attack roll.
<Dracos> roll 4d6 for DAMAGE
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 4d6 for DAMAGE --> [ 4d6=20 ]{20}
<Dracos> roll 1d6+1 for MORE STUN
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 1d6+1 for MORE STUN --> [ 1d6=4 ]{5}
<Brian> Lammermore's attack roll lands now...
<Brian> roll 3#3d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3#3d6+1d3 --> [ 3d6=11 1d3=1 ]{12}, [ 3d6=10 1d3=2 ]{12}, [ 3d6=11 1d3=1 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 1d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1d3 --> [ 1d6=2 1d3=1 ]{3}
<Brian> roll 1d6-1 for stun
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6-1 for stun --> [ 1d6=4 ]{3}
<Brian> Rez, roll transference.
<Nathan> roll 4d6 for Trans-fer!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 4d6 for Trans-fer! --> [ 4d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> *plink*
<Brian> But, you have very thoroughly dazed him.
<Brian> Segment 6, speeds 2 and 4.
<Brian> Dex order.
<Brian> Alec gamely swats at Estin.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> At 1/2 DCV, Estin lurches out of the way (barely).
<Brian> Bjorn, your action.
<Bjorn> Again, Bjorn strikes hard, taking advantage of Estin's daze.
<Bjorn> 6 points to DC.  OCV 10.  Martial Strike, Cold damage, NND.
<Bjorn> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Bjorn> roll 3d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6+1 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{7}
<Bjorn> roll 1d6-1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 1d6-1 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{1}
<Brian> Estin seems annoyed by this hit, and glares at Bjorn as he recovers ... but his attention quickly goes back to Nathan.
<Brian> Segment ... 8.  Speed threes -- Nathan, Lammermore, and Dracos.
<Brian> Dex order, Nathan first.
Nathan steps forward and slashes quickly at Estin - sweep attack, two attacks, all +1s to OCV.
<Brian> Okay.  Make your rolls.
<Nathan> roll 2#3d6 for Strike! Strike! Strike!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 2#3d6 for Strike! Strike! Strike! --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}, [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Hit, and ... hit.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll for your damage.
<Nathan> roll 2#2d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 2#2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{10}, [ 2d6=10 ]{11}
<Brian> Okay.  Roll your Stun (twice).
<Nathan> roll 2#1d6+1 for Stunning, yo?
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 2#1d6+1 for Stunning, yo? --> [ 1d6=6 ]{7}, [ 1d6=2 ]{3}
<Brian> Okay.  Now roll your transference (twice).
<Nathan> roll 2#4d6 for And -NOW- for the objective . . .
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 2#4d6 for And -NOW- for the objective . . . --> [ 4d6=15 ]{15}, [ 4d6=16 ]{16}
<Brian> Okay.  You crack, and then (finally) sunder his armor.
<Brian> It collapses to the ground around him.
<Brian> Grunting, Estin shakes off the pain that would have crushed a human by now.
<Brian> It's now Lammermore's action.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for sliding into the opening Rez has made
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for sliding into the opening Rez has made --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> He hits four times.
<Brian> roll 4#2d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{5}, [ 2d6=10 ]{11}, [ 2d6=3 ]{4}, [ 2d6=10 ]{11}
<Brian> roll 1d6-1 stun
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6-1 stun --> [ 1d6=4 ]{3}
<Brian> roll 3#1d6-1 stun
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3#1d6-1 stun --> [ 1d6=5 ]{4}, [ 1d6=4 ]{3}, [ 1d6=3 ]{2}
<Brian> Two of the glowing trails behind Lammermore's swords draw blood on Estin -- but it's not blood.  It's (by appearance) magma.
<Brian> Dracos, your move.
<Dracos> I would like to sweep, 3 times.  Points to ocv. *crosses fingers*
<Brian> Make your rolls.
Dracos brings his sword into the opening as fast as he can.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> Two hits.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage twice.
<Dracos> roll 2#2d6+1d3
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2#2d6+1d3 --> [ 2d6=10 1d3=3 ]{13}, [ 2d6=9 1d3=3 ]{12}
<Brian> Apply your stun multiplier.
<Dracos> roll 2#1d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 2#1d6+1 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{6}, [ 1d6=4 ]{5}
<Brian> You've wounded him a bit more.
<Brian> He looks mad, for some reason.
<Brian> Segment 9, speed 4s.
<Brian> Estin acts first.
<Brian> He raises his axe, which begins to glow faintly with reddish/gold energy, and slams it into the ground -- everyone makes a breakfall check.
<Nathan> roll 3d6 for Break-FALL!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Nathan ... : 3d6 for Break-FALL! --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Bjorn> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 2#3d6 for Lammermore and Alec
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#3d6 for Lammermore and Alec --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}, [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Dracos> roll 3d6 for breakfall!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 for breakfall! --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> Well, none of you are thrown to the ground by the reverberations, or the cracks forming in the ...steaming snow and dirt around you.  These cracks are hot, and emiting glowing light.  You kind of don't like where this is going.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for breakfall
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for breakfall --> [ 3d6=16 ]{16}
<Brian> For what it's worth, Estin knocks himself down, though.
<Brian> roll 3d6 breakfall
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 breakfall --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> Ekim, however, lands perfectly -- you have NO IDEA where he came from -- you're busy fighting one dwarf in a duel to the death, and another just popped out of the sky and slammed into the ground between Nathan and Estin, his shield slamming deeper into the ground.
<Brian> The spikes seem to actually be holding the earth together, and Ekim grunts, pressing his shield down into the earth as if to hold everything back.
<Brian> "Hurry," he grates, glaring at Estin with enough raw hate that fire is actually radiating from his glowing eyes.  "Destroy this traitor!"
<Brian> Bjorn, you kept your footing -- it's now your action.
Bjorn winds up, moving to deliver the most damaging blow he can.
<Bjorn> Haymaker.  6 points to DC.  OCV 10, Cold damage NND.
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> Segment 10.
<Brian> Bjorn: Go ahead and make your attack roll.
<Bjorn> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Bjorn> roll 4d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 4d6 --> [ 4d6=14 ]{14}
<Bjorn> roll 1d6-1
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 1d6-1 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{5}
<Brian> That's a ... sorry, that hit ends up reaching the house rule of "any hit that succeeds by more than 10 is a critical".
<Brian> I'm afraid instead of rolling, you're going to have to be satisfied with max damage.
<Bjorn> Oh.
<Bjorn> Too bad.
<Brian> Which is, if I see here, 24.
<Bjorn> Yep.
<Brian> So.  Let's see here.
<Brian> Estin is now Knocked Out, and cooling very quickly.
<Brian> The Dreadmarch breaks, and begins fleeing for the far edge of the field.
<Brian> The trebuchets and Lorekeeper surge into action and chase those who flee with magic and arrows.
<Nathan> And Ekim and our not-entirely-stable grounding?
<Brian> "Hurry," Ekim grunts, still holding the shield in place.
<Brian> Segment 12, everyone acts.
Nathan raises his blade for a haymaker.
Dracos promptly runs a blade into Estin's skull. >_>
<Brian> Okay, Dracos, make your roll.
<Dracos> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> That's max damage.
<Brian> What's your damage?
<Dracos> both to dc.  3d6+1
<Dracos> 19.
<Dracos> roll 1d6+1 stun
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Dracos ... : 1d6+1 stun --> [ 1d6=3 ]{4}
<Brian> No stun -- he's dead, and his body instantly hardens to stone (incidentally trapping your blade).
<Brian> Those Dreadmarch minions that have not made it off the field turn to dust.

[Brian]

Eying Estin's remains, Ekim wrenches Phil's blade free and hands it to him.  "My thanks," he says gravely, as the cracks in the earth cool down.

Parthipan, concerned for the safety of his friends, arrives on the scene as the moon crests the upper reaches of the eastern peak.

[Rezantis]

"Well . . ." Nathan hums, "That would appear to be that. Thank you for your help, Friend Ekim."

[Brian]

Ekim smiles, and wrenches his shield free of the earth.  "My thanks to you," he rumbles.  "Estin was a traitor."  He eyes the corpse distastefully, then shakes his head and starts walking towards the keep's gates, evidently needing some time alone.

A battle-medic approaches Lammermore, and hauls him off before he can say anything else, leaving Bjorn, Parthipan, Phil, and Alec upright.  Alec heaves a sigh and sits on the ground heavily.  "Glad that one's down," he says, nodding to himself.

He eyes Estin's axe contemplatively for a moment, and then turns away, looking out towards the Dreadmarch encampment.

[Rezantis]

"No kidding. Five down, eight to go."

Rez hums, following Alec's gaze towards the dreadmarch encampment.

"A little leery?"

[Ginrai]

"You guys really need to tell me what happened here later on," Ginrai says as he's eying the slab of stone that was once a Dwarve's corpse.

"That the dwarf would be the general this early isn't a good sign.  Just how powerful will the other generals be?"

[Dracos]

Dracos sheathes his blade, taking the axe up and examining it with magic vision.  "I suspect a rather different reason, Parthipan.  He went after Nathan specifically, knowing exactly what Nathan's blade could do.  He did not go directly for Lammermore or Bjorn, to assail the leadership of the keep.  He did not go for me, to assail the leadership of the storm-riders or demonstrate the superiority of dwarvish weapons over human craft.  Instead he directly went after Nathan.  I think it was a tactical manuever.  Last battle went very easily.  A good deal of that was our ability to tear apart the magic armor and weapons of the enemy general and remove that protection and power.  By taking out nathan or his sword, it'd strike a quick and damaging blow to our ability to resist the future generals.  It'd be a waste to send out any general without a very good chance of dealing with Nathan's sword without his blade failing apart first, even if the general could be very dangerous to all of us.  You saw how his axe survived clashing with Nathan's sword."

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Bjorn grunts.  "He went after Sir Shuker after his sword destroyed a Jotun's club and sent the Jotun sprawling," Bjorn points out.  "But he was quick enough to turn on me in the fight once I'd begun to hurt him.  I'd be inclined to say he was doing exactly what he said -- trying to kill our best.  I doubt he set out to target Nathan in particular."

[Brian]

Phil is unable to lift the axe that's locked in the stone's grip, but to his eyes it does not appear to be magical at all -- just exceedingly well crafted.

"A little," Alec replies to Nathan, nodding.

[Rezantis]

"He went for whoever looked like the biggest threat, Phil.  Who that looked like varied, and his inability to concentrate on any one of us got his ass killed."

Rez hums, then snickers.

"By the way, Alec, really sorry, but I guess I didn't learn anything from the last time."

[Bjorn]

"No," Bjorn says, calmly.  "What got him killed was being on the wrong side.  He made any number of mistakes, but that was the basic one."

Looking around the battlefield, he pauses to look at the stony remains, and then shakes his head, sheathing his swords.  "Come on.  Let's get back into the Keep."

With that, he strides off, helping to escort some of the wounded back into the Keep.

Bjorn now leaves this thread and joins Protect Life.

[Rezantis]

Nathan summons the gauntlet - underneath his gloves, of course - and tries to shift Estin's axe himself.  While holding his sword in his off-hand, 'cause he can't really put it down or anything.

"We shouldn't just be leaving this here . . ."

[Ginrai]

"Need any help with that?  If you want I can go and get Ekim."

[Brian]

That axe isn't budging for anyone.  There is no way that you can move it without -- one would expect -- smashing through the stone hands wrapped around it, and each of those hands is as big around as any of your upper torsos.

[Rezantis]

"I don't think he wants us to bug him right now. Nice work with the shield, by the way," Rez hums absently.

"You know, this thing . . . any objections to me just smashing it here?"