Acting on a [del]DM hint[/del] hunch, I’ll seize Glinras and hit the highest horn-note I can squeeze out of it, in the hope it might interfere with their senses.
As the bats come in 8 arrows go flying from Gil-Gandel, Miron and Thoroncir. They are tough to hit, especially for Thoroncir in the dark. He misses twice but 5 of the arrows from the elves hit and 5 bats drop. The Hobbits add 4 bullets to the effort and hit three times dropping 3 more.
Ghân casts Summon Insects which will last 10 rounds and kill a bat every round starting with the 2nd round due to the huge numbers of bats.
Deor launches the Mithril Dragon this round that glows in a 30’ radius and has eyed up a good placement for a web to help the party next round.
Gwaelur has his helm lit up like a torch as he and the rest await the strange foe.
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As the bats now near 5 more arrows fly from Miron and Thoroncir and all 5 hit. The Hobbits also hit 4 times and the first bat drops to the insects.
Ghân casts a second Summon Insects which will last 10 rounds and kill a bat every round due to the huge numbers of bats. (19 Dead)
Deor waits until the end of the round and tosses up a web between two tall trees between the bats and the party.
Gil-Gandel now blows a high horn blast that sends many of the bats swerving and diving and seems to cause some temporary confusion.
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About 20 bats get caught in the web as Miron fires 3 more arrows and hits 3 times. He is hit twice for 3
Elfstan switches to Sting and Knife but misses as they miss him.
Mulligan pulled up a ready torch and bats one out of the sky as several try to swarm her. Her new armor seems to help her.
Ghân casts a third Summon Insects as three bats drop to insects. Fang is near him. He has two swarms surrounding him, keeping him safe. He guides a third swarm toward the horses.
Deor tosses a sleep spell and drops 10 bats. They seem to be avoiding the Mithril Dragon hovering over his head.
Gil-Gandel secured Glinras and pulls out his blades, which he commands to flame. (Up to 14 rounds). He weaves a flaming death in front of himself getting 4 bats to light on fire though never actually cutting one. Curunauth stands back to back with Gil-Gandel and hits twice while taking 3
Gwaelur bashes with his shield and swings his axe. He gets only 1 bat but none hit him.
Lorliana hits one bat and then gets hits by 4 for 5 and drops her torch shrieking in fear and pain to the ground. Anca attacks the bats on her. He bites one and smashes another though he takes 3
Thoroncir works to protect Gilraen, he takes many hits for 5 but keeps her mostly safe. He killed two with sword and shield. One bat got by him but a screaming his Missy takes it down.
Gorbo is trying to protect the horses with a torch and Fenrig. He takes 2 and Fenrig 3 and they kill only one. ** (40 Dead+30 spelled) **
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Miron calls out, “Something bigger is coming in, something foul and wrong. I see it through SwiftWing.”
He shoots three more bats out of the skies as he gets attacked 7 total. SwiftWing drops down and takes out a stray.
Elfstan moves to help Miron and gets two bats this time but takes 2
Mulligan dives, rolls and comes up firing 4 throwing knives and then grabbing her torch again. She hit twice and is under the shield of insects.
4 more die to Ghân’s insects as he casts a 4th Summon Insects from his ring. He now has a goodly cloud covering the Horses as he moved to also cover Lorliana. This gave Fang a chance to crush a bat and Anca claims another. Lorliana looks bad.
Deor tosses his second sleep from the cover of Ghân’s living buzzing shield and his Dragon and he gets 12 this time.
Gil-Gandel orders the party, “Retreat to the horses. Get under Ghân’s shield”. He and Curu inch back as they account for 3 more. Gil-Gandel takes 2 and Curu is up to 6.
Gwaelur looking annoy is bashing around with his shield and Axe a little crazed. He is on all out attack and not worried about defense. He kills 5 bats as he makes it near the horses. He took 4
Thoroncir again does everything in his power to shield Gilraen as they retreat. He gets one bat and takes several more hits for 9 total. Gilraen kneels to aid Lorliana, she throws a Cure Light that fully heals her.
Gorbo and Fenrig are guarding the outskirts of the horses where the insects have not yet covered. He gets another bat and takes 3 more for 5 total.
It appears the spellcasters are little by little saving the party and turning the tide. **(63 Dead+42 spelled) **
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Miron has backed up to the horses and is still firing away. Elfstan is trying to protect his back as they go. Miron hits twice and Elfstan once as Miron gets hits twice 10 total and Elfstan once 3.
Mulligan is using her torch to help guard Lorliana. She is also looking for whatever is coming in.
Ghân eyes the number of bats and casts a final Summon Insects and kills 5 this round.
Deor tosses his final sleep and gets 9 more.
Gil-Gandel flames 3 more bats and takes no damage. He sees a distant dark shape approaching.
Curunauth is happy for the respite and is guarding from under the thick cloud of insects. He misses with a jab and takes only one more for 7.
Gwaelur charges back out and seems uncaring and looks slightly crazed as bats swarm him. He is gleefully bashing and chopping. He gets 6 and takes a total of 10. He calls out, “How many more?”
Thoroncir ensures the girls stay safe and strikes only one bat with his sword. None get past his shield.
Gorbo and Fenrig get another and take another each. 6 total for Gorbo and Fenrig is at 4.
Gil-Gandel calls out, “There is less than a hundred to go!”
The horses have taken many strikes. **(82 Dead+51 spelled) **
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Miron calls for Gil-Gandel to get your bow and best arrows out, it is nearly in range. He fires three more and hits 3 more bats.
Elfstan gets 2 as he takes 3 more for 6 total.
Mulligan gets another bat that made it through the insects.
Ghân converts 5 first to a third to cast his absolute last Summon Insects and 6 bats die.
Deor sees the horses are very skittish and many are bleeding and a few have bats on them. He tosses a 60’x120’ protective blanket of thick webs over most of the horses and calls out, “Keep the flames away from the horses at all costs.” 7 bats get stuck in the web.
Thoroncir skewers a bat and shield bashes a second. One slips by but Anca gets it.
Gilraen is handing out berries quickly, she gets Thoroncir down to 1. She gets to Mulligan who has somehow avoided damage but Mulligan delivers 16 to Elfstan 0 and Miron 2. She is heading for Curu with Thoroncir guarding her.
Gwaelur draws a small cloud to him and slams, slashes, splits and stomps another 6 bats but is now down 17.
Gil-Gandel takes advantage of opportunity and lure to switch back to bow and shoots down three near Gwaelur. He takes 4 more for 6 total .
Curunauth gets 2 more and takes 1 for 8.
Gorbo and Fenrig have retreated to where the girls were. Where Lorli feeds berries to both fast to bring them to full and Anca.
Gil-Gandel calls out, “There is less than a 70 to go! And I see Miron’s foul thing.” ** (106 Dead+58 spelled) **
Can I get some healing quickly? I feel like I am going to take a lot more damage before we are done here.
Unsure of what kind of foul creature is approaching, Elfstan decides he will switch to his new sword if it looks like it may be some form of undead.
Being out of spells, Deor will dedicate himself to getting a handful of Goodberries from Ghan and distributing them. When he’s not doing that, he’ll keep near Lorliana and make sure the dragon covers them both.
Thoroncir struggles to overcome his loathing of bats - they’re just filthy, toothy, flying rats, as far as he’s concerned, and so much the worse that they’re actually being commanded to attack the party - and continues to protect Gilraen and Lorliana as best he can.
He spares a worried glance at his warhorse Seafoam and shouts to Gil-Gandel and Miron, “What foul thing approaches, my Elven-friends? How best can we fight it?”
This is tough, about a third of the bats left and something big coming in.
Gil-Gandel, can you tell how long we have got until it arrives?
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Gil-Gandel on the foul thing, “One round for us elves to bow and two rounds for slings and Gwaelur’s bolt and then it will be upon us. I know not what it is.” He fires three arrows and hits twice. He takes 2 more for 8.
Miron fires 3 more normal arrows and all find targets.
Elfstan switches Sting for his new sword just in case. He slashes a bat out of the sky but takes 2. He eats his last two berries though to return to 0.
Mulligan zigs and zags and darts and dashes and rolls under the webs to crawl out the other side once the bats are snared. She led 12 bats in the web and took only 4. She eats her first 4 berries and is fine at 0.
Gwaelur abruptly pivots and charges back into the group sighting Gilraen and aiming for her. He kills two and takes a few more to go to 20 down. Gilraen shouts to Deor to get berries to Gil-Gandel and Curunauth, she Cure Lights Gwaelur for 14 and gives him 6 berries to eat. Gwaelur is at 0. Thoroncir knocks 2 down with his shield following Gwaelur too closely and skewers a third.
Ghân hands Deor a pocket full of berries. Call it 30. His insects get 6 more bats. Ghân casts flame blade to fight bats and in case it is undead flying in to attack the party.
Deor grabs a torch of his own and rushes to the Elves. He gets 8 to Gil-Gandel and 8 to Curunauth. Gil-Gandel is at 0.
Lorliana has two torches and stays behind Deor. She neither hits nor is hit.
Curunauth kills 3 bats takes 1 more for 9 but eats 8 berries to go to 1. Then Curunauth’s Sword begins glowing with a pale green light. “It is undead flying in, is it mounted or winged? Your eyes are better than mine Gil-Gandel!”
Gorbo knocks another down and Fang grabs one out of the air.
Gil-Gandel calls back, “It is winged and not mounted, I know not what it is. There are only 32 bats left!”
Curunauth, “Forgive me; I fear I know what it is and why we have been getting attacked so often. It is a one of the Witch King’s slave wraiths and it wants me. I injured it badly long ago and I fear it wants revenge. It is one of the Delgwil or Flying Horrors. Use only magic or blesses or flaming arrows and weapons.”
Deor shouts, “Just remember, keep the flames away from the horses.” ** (128 Dead+70 spelled) **
Ghân alerts the party that he has plenty of Goodberries left in his pouch. N.B. 8 maximum per person.
He can still cast Cure Light Wounds (although he has cast all his 1st and 3rd level spells, CLW is 2nd level), presumably on Gwaelur.
Once enough bats have been killed, Ghân will switch his remaining Summon Insects to the incoming horror.
We’re getting there, not quite as many left to go.
I will try and attract the bats from the other side of Deor’s web and see if I can get any more trapped in it.
Gwaelur gets ready to try out his helms Light Blast attack for the first time.
Has he mentioned how much he loves his new helm to the party yet? He does.
Watch out for the big guy!
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Gil-Gandel fires 3 +1 arrows into the winged horror. He hits twice for 10.
Miron fires 3 +1 elven arrows and hits only once for 7.
Gwaelur gets another bat while eying up this new foe.
Ghân strikes one with his flame blade and gets 6 with his insects. He directs the insects to assault the Delgwil next.
Deor and Lorliana keep the bats away from themselves while standing back to back. He notes a strange thrill despite the danger in having contact with her.
Gorbo and the Canines get no bats.
Elfstan gets two bats.
Mulligan chances a few more bites to lead 6 more bats into Deor’s web. She takes another 3 but eats 3 more berries as she again crawls out and readies her sling.
Thoroncir gets a bat while protecting Gilraen. Then suddenly there are no bats near them as Gilraen pulls out the Rod of Kanotir and brings up its bright white light to surround the party for 60’. She has her bauble in her other hand and wills this gift of Galadriel, to allow her to glow like one of the Calaquendi(Elves of the Light) liken to Galadriel or Glorfindel. (With these two items she now will turn as if 6 levels higher and she gains a +2 roll from Missy). The remaining bats flee from her. The Delgwil actually seems to slow down. She has a stray thought wondering if the two gifts can be combined.
Curunauth darts out and stabs a bat and then races over by Gilraen. (140 Dead+76 spelled: only 14 left)
The Delgwil comes into view for most of the party. It is an ugly greenish gray and stony looking though slimy too. It looks like some ancient demon with large bat like wings. Its face has a twisted feline look to it.
Elfstan will try to get a few +1 silver bullets into the Delgwil. He will continue with the sling until it lands. When it does, he will try to repeatedly stick his new Númenórean blade in its back.
Well, Deor’s magic is pretty well used up now. For lack of anything better, he’ll grab a burning branch from the fire and hope he doesn’t have to use it. He’ll also heap even more wood on the fire if there’s any around, hoping to ensure a steady supply of torches if the party needs them. He’ll keep Lorliana behind him.
Ok, 14 small flappy things and one very large undead flappy thing to go.
Unless they have been driven off by Gilraen’s Rod, I’ll continue trying to take out the bats.
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Six magic arrows fly from the Elves. **Gil-Gandel **hits twice and **Miron **once for 22 more and 39 total.
**Mulligan **slings two bullets and drops 2 bats
**Elfstan **sees it is heading straight for Curunauth with a spear in hand. Elfstan heads over to try for a back stab instead of slinging.
**Ghân **directs the insects to intercept and moves nearby himself. Taurgil in one hand and the Flame Blade in the other. He gets a bat on the way over.
**Gwaelur **fires two Mithril bolts and hits once for 12. (51)
**Thoroncir **moves to meet it with a cry of, “By Elendil and Eärendil you shall not have him!”
**Gilraen **strides over behind Curunauth
**Gorbo **and the canines whimper and crouch low. The horses are frightened but cannot run. Even **Swiftwing **and **Brownie **take to the air and flee.
**Lorliana **panics and starts to run but **Deor **tackles her and cover her with his body. He takes 3 hits from the remaining bats for 4.
The Delgwil sends a blast of lightning that fries a bat on the way but Ghân intercepts it with Taurgil.
**Gilraen **in a command voice, “Your master is long dead, let old feuds die, it is time for you to rest evermore, A Elbereth Gilthoniel begone!” A crack is heard and it drop fast.
**Thoroncir **strikes and hits for 18 (69) but is raked for 8.
The Delgwil still spears Curunuath for 18 but Thoroncir and Gilraen seemed to have slowed the charge at least. Curunauth missed as he is knocked to the ground.
**Gwaelur **blasts with his helm for 20 (89) and **Elfstan **stabs the Delgwil in the back for 27! (116) it crumbles to the ground.
Gilraen calls out, “The spear and jewelry is not evil but its ring is very evil.”
**(Bats: 144 Dead+76 spelled: only 10 left) **
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The bats look confused and wander off.
Gorbo stands up, “Twasn’t so bad now, was it?”
Gilraen kneels quickly to aid Curunauth. She throws Curelight for 15 getting him to 4 but calls for Ghân, “I fear he is poisoned.”
Ghân has a neutralize poison spell stored in the stone and cures Curunauth.
YARH!
Good work everyone. I am off to find my bolts. I will be back to help with cleanup in a moment.
Deor will stand up, help Lorliana to her feet, and help to gather the party again. He then goes to the horses, using his pocketknife to cut the horses free and kill any bats left in the Webs. He’ll then make a point of going over to Ghan for more Goodberries, both for himself and Lorlana.
Well done Deor, that more than makes up for last time.
You may as just dispel the webs and let the bats fly free. I don’t think they are a danger anymore.