Bear River
General: Following our mop up action at the Gnoll Stronghold (GS), we rested and reconstituted in Nashkel before moving north of the GS to the Bear River Area (BRA). There we encountered in various battles, five Ogres; about 10 Hobgoblin-Orecai armed with poison tipped Bows and arrows; probably 30 Gibberling’s; a huge bear and a pack of wild dogs.
Our first run-in was with a couple of Ogres. Before we got going good, Imoen cast a Sleep Spell from a Scroll and they dropped like flies. We cut ‘em to pieces before they could come to and that was that. We all learned a valuable lesson. Dynahier had regarded the Sleep Spell as ‘Cheap Beer’ prior to this event but now readily admits she was wrong – a rare thing indeed. We later found another Scroll of the same and Imoen wrote it to her Spellbook and memorized it when we returned to Nashkel.
Later, Laurel, a Paladin, I think, asked for aid in killing a pack of Gibberling’s which we were glad to provide. We ended up sending about 25 of them to Gibberling Hell.
Our comic relief this day was coming on an Ogre/Bard who was barbecuing something. He asked us to wait to fight him until he was ‘fat and happy.’ We irritated him one time too many and he offered to make us his ‘pudding desert.’ It didn’t work out that way for him.
From there we found ourselves in a tough fight when Khalid spied an ogre and four Orecai on a bridge leading over Bear River. It turned out there was a second Ogre. The Orecai had those nasty poison tipped arrows armed in their bows. Once Khalid informed us of what he’d seen we allowed Dynahier to start the party with a Fireball dead in the middle of them which she applied masterfully. This weakened them and we moved in with Minsc and me falling on the first Ogre, dismissing him and then picking out the second for destruction. The Orecai switched to their swords when we got ‘close-in’ and they became easy prey at that point.
Later we came upon a foppish fellow in the wild who was screaming about a bear chasing him. We’d already killed that bear when we’d been on the far side of the bridge but I guess he didn’t know it yet. The fellow rewarded us with a nice pair of Boots of the North.
Key Event: On the eastern side of the river I allowed the party to scatter and it almost turned into a gigantic mistake. Khalid had moved far ahead scouting and was on the eastern edge of the BRA. I decided to allow the party to catch up as opposed to awaiting him to return and give us a report which is our Standing Operating Procedure. Somehow I allowed Minsc and Jaheira to wander southeast directly toward Khalid’s position while Dynahier, Imoen and I headed east around a large hill, intent on then heading due south to link up with Khalid.
Minsc fell into the hands of a Bandit and five Orecai in hiding who attacked. Minsc was in a tough toe to toe battle with the Bandit Leader and was bleeding heavily. It didn’t help that he had already been nicked up in previous engagements in the hours beforehand and was being pelted witharrows at the same time. He’d hit the Bandit Leader a number of times but the guy was still swinging. Jaheira was the only member of the party close enough to assist and was providing spell and ranged support as best she could but it was not significantly affecting the battle enough to aid Minsc.
I arrived in time to order Minsc to the rear out of arrow range and, even then he took another as he conducted the retrograde. One more and we’d have been visiting the priest of Helm in Nashkel – or worse.
By the time Minsc had retired and I got to the Bandit leader, he was weakened and I took him out quickly before closing on the Orecai who quickly abandoned their bows for swords – bad idea. Dynahier and Khalid had also closed on the battle and were providing spell and ranged support as I slashed through the Orecai. We finally finished them but it was not easy.
Treasure of Note: (Legend: S=Sold; U=Party Use; St = Me; Mi=Minsc; Kh=Khalid, etc; Sb = Spellbook). Long Sword +1 (St); Scroll (Dispel Magic) (Im); Boots of the North (Kh); ~ 150 GP (U)
Leader Notes: Once again, the issue here was Party Discipline and the fault was squarely my own. After three previous forays which yielded nothing more significant than ‘fly-swatting’, I guess I caught a case of ‘overconfidence’ which could have ended sadly – very sadly.
Current Disposition: Resting at the Nashkel Inn.
Next Steps: Xvart Village
Game Notes/Questions: None
Promotions: None
Current Party: (Reputation: 20 - Heroic)
Stanley: 6th Lvl Cavalier (19*/15/18/10/14*/19*); LS**/SSS**/Mace**; Full Plate/LSwd +1/M. Star +1;
Cloak (Prot +2)/Helm (Ch Prot)/Rings (FA,FR)
Minsc: 6th Lvl Barbarian; 2HS***/2HWS**/Flail; Splint Mail/Spiders Bane; Ring(Prot +1);
Khalid: 7th Lvl Bounty Hunter; BS/LB/SWS; Studded Leather +1/LB of Mkp/BSwd +1/+3 (SS)
Imoen: 7th Lvl Swashbuckler/2nd Lvl Mage; SBw/SSwd; Leather Armor +1/SBw/SSwd+1
Jaheira: 7th Lvl Druid; Cl/Sl/Sc; Leather Armor +1/Club+2(EotS)/Sl; Ring (Holiness)
Dynahier; 6th Lvl Invoker; Sl/St; Travelers Robe/Sl/QS+1/Ring (Energy)
* Ability score raised by Manual (Gainful Exercise), Tomes (Understanding; Leadership and Influence)
respectively
Reloads: 5
Modifié par Charlestonian Knight Templar, 09 août 2011 - 07:29 .
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