Prelude to a Rumble

The bridge to the City was out, thrashed and heaved aside by the might of the waves. However, the industrious citizens had decided to construct a makeshift wooden bridge. The markets were the heart of the city. With the docks washed away, this was the only option to keep the blood of the city, the goods and wares, flowing. Unfortunately, they were far from finished. So, Grumbleshanks and his new companion crossed the river.

"Ugh! A sea monster's taken hold of me! Its going to eat me toe by toe, limb by limb. Swim on, my graceful hobbit. Save yourself!" wailed the gnome.

Stifling a giggle, Grumbleshanks watched amusement as the gnome panicked. After seeing his fill, he mentally asked Squiggles to show himself. "It's nothing to worry about, its only Squiggles."

Disgust, followed by dismay, covered by amazement washed over Gurkirat's face. "Say wha-- Squiggles, you know this salt water beast? Hah! I knew it, merely an octopus. And you know it?"

"Him, we've grown up together. Haven't we Squig. Would you help us across?"

The three swam across. Then, Grumbleshanks said goodbye for now, and the two with toes continued on towards the city.

The pair gawked at the strange and wondrous sights of the outsiders's market. "Get your dwarven rock bread! It'll keep you rolling for days!" Here, a crooked crone offered stoppered bottles of elixirs and potions each labeled with its presumed effects: Flying, Woter Breething, Luv Poshun. "Barbequed gnurlitom! Roast beast! Going fast! Gurdiroot sauce over sauteed hinkypunk!" There, a butcher whacked the heads off chickens and giant hedgehogs and plucked them then and there. Ahead, a basilisk lay curled on a rock. Grumbleshanks gasped and turned his head before Gurkirat pointed out the blind tied over its eyes.

Carrying little gold and few possessions, the shopping and haggling was made easy. Grumbleshanks simply couldn't afford or trade anything of use. He was flooded with memories of his father and mother haggling with tidbits of information, items, and resources. His parents were Squabblers, or dickering penny-pinchers who bartered the various items and information that the Winddriver fleet amassed.

Winding through the tents and stalls, the short pair neared the gates. The shopping grew thicker the closer to the city they walked. Dodging the legs of Tall Folk became their first priority, the stalls nearly forgotten.

A shriek pierced the air.

"Adventure! Kobolds? Dragons? Mindflayers? Never fear fair maiden, for we're on the way!" Dragging Grumbleshanks behind him, Gurkirat scrambled in the direction of the scream, towards the city gates.

People fled screaming into the market, away from the gates. Still the miniature duo wove through the panicking crowd. The stumbled into a vacant lot opening up on the gates. The stalls stood unpacked and items lay strewn about the ground. Two guards lay crumpled and bleeding near the unhinged gates. A grotesque figure with ragged fur lay pinned under a third lifeless guard. Attacking another guard were two creatures covered with matted brown fur and long, hairless tails. One of them, stood on its hind legs at a little over 4 feet tall and was holding a rapier in its paw. The other was on all fours, about 2 feet long without its tail, and was biting at the guard's soft midsection. The smaller one appeared to have been cut already by a soldier's sword, and was bleeding from a large gash in its midsection.

Without thinking, the bard rushed forward screaming while drawing his sickle and fastening his buckler. The three combatants looked up at the sudden cry. The guard recovered first and ran the taller creature through the chest with his longsword. However, the stab left him open to the other who jumped up and raked the guard's throat with a set of viciously sharp teeth. With a squeal of anger and , the huge rat-creature rushed towards the charging gnome leaving the guard to clutch helplessly to his shredded throat.

Grumbleshanks, momentarily stunned at the ferociousness and quickness of the scuffle, began charging with his spear at the ready.

Gurkirat and the creature clashed.

(Ehh.... how does this work out?)

Initiative:Gurki: 17+2=19
Grumble: 8+2=10
Rat: 10+3=13
Verdict: PC's go first.

Gurkirat thought little other than "Oh shit." Like a middle school chorister singing in his first concert, Gurkirat was buzzing with angst and excitement. During his charge, Gurkirat cocked his arm readying a sweeping slice of his curved blade. Just as they closed, Gurkirat unleashed his excitement with a cut of his sickle. Roll: 3+3=6 In his enthusiam, he misjudged the distance and swung to early. The term oh shit, came to have a new meaning then and there as he regained his balance preparing for the worst.

October 14, 2009 4:22 PM

Doug R. said...

Luckily for the gnome, his companion thrust himself in to the melee with the business end of his spear. Attack:8+1=9 He too was full of the nerves of his first fight and the rat easily sidestepped a wild thrust.

The rat, seeing two fresh enemies its' own size, gets a hungry gleam in its eyes. As Gurkirat swings wildly, he spins partially around, showing the beast his side, and the rat takes advantage, launching itself at Gurkirat. Attack roll: Roll(1d20)+6: 20,+6 Total:26 Youch!!! Natural 20. No good... No good... For Critical Hit: Roll(1d20)+6: 3,+6 Total:9 Whew! Not a critical hit. Damage: Roll(1d4)+1: 4,+1 Total:5 Gurkirat reels, as the beast gives him a fierce bite on his shoulder before getting thrown off onto the ground, rolling up to attack again. Please roll me two fortitude saves for Gurkirat Fortitude 1: 17+2=19 Fortitude 2: 20+2=22

Gritting his teeth at the pain in his shoulders, Gurkirat maintained focus on the rat, never looking down at his stinging shoulder. His blood rose and anger enveloped the small figure. He took a furious slash at the greasy varmint. Attack: 1 + (a heap of trouble)=uh oh

Grumbleshanks gasped in shock as the rat gnashed his companion's shoulder. Fearing the worst, Grumbleshanks renewed his attack. His blood also rising as the heat of battle and fear of death pumped through his body. Attack: 20 Crit?: 9+1=10 Damage: 1 (x3?)

The rat, angered at being struck again, this time by a spear, turns on this new aggressor, and lunges for Grumbleshanks' left leg. Roll(1d20)+6: 1,+6 Total:7 Grumbleshanks notices the beast turning toward him and deflects the rats' lunge with his spear as he steps back, safely avoiding being hurt.

Gurkirat, seeing his chance, ssliced at the side of the rat. Attack: 4+3=7 He thinks to himself, as the rat deftly dodges the blow, this sounds much easier in the the stories. Grumbleshanks, looking the greasy rodent in the face, was quite unnerved. Now, realizing he was fighting for his life, feinted high and stabbed low. Attack: 12+1=13

Grumbleshanks swings wide again, as the rat dodges to the side. He again goes for Grumbleshanks' ankle, and this time: Attack: Roll(1d20)+6: 14,+6 Total:20 Hit. Damage: Roll(1d4)+1: 3,+1 Total:4 Grumbleshanks is tripped up and begins bleeding from the ankle. Please roll fortitude again, this time for Grumbleshanks.

Fortitude: 14+5=19 Seeing the rat draw blood from his friend, Gurkirat lashed out. Attack:19+3=22 Damage: 4+2=6 Grumbleshanks recovered quickly. Seeing his own blood, Grumbleshanks thrust out in anger and desperation. Attack: 6+1 The pain dulled his accuracy.

As Gurkirat lashed out with his sickle, he caught the rat, and his scythe bit in between the beast's ribs, cutting it very deep. As he yanked the blade out, the creature began gurgling, and fell over, feebly reaching towards its foes as it died.