20000415 BittenByTheDogs

<H1> Bitten by the Dogs of War </H1>
<H2> Role Call </H2>
<TABLE>
<TR>
 <TD> Kill'Dar </TD>
 <TD> 9th/3rd Elf Wizard/Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Rick DiRicco </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Colin </TD>
 <TD> 9th Human Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Jim Yonemura </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kieran </TD>
 <TD> 7th/4th Half-Elf Cleric/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> Ray Chiang </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Ander </TD>
 <TD> 6th Human Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Matt Miller </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Grackle </TD>
 <TD> 6th/5th Half-Elf Fighter/Rogue </TD>
 <TD> Mark Whisler </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Prince Donner </TD>
 <TD> 6th/5rd Human Fighter/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> John Speck </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Travian </TD>
 <TD> 8th Human Paladin </TD>
 <TD> Robert Giedt </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Fingle </TD>
 <TD> 3rd/7th Gnome Cleric/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> Richard Jacobsen </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2> Session Summary </H2>
<P>
Looking southeast over the hill, the party can see large numbers
of troops moving through the outer city. Some, perhaps half, are 
moving towards the road. The rest are converging directly on the 
inner city. It looks like it will take some time, but the bees 
nest has definitely been stirred up.
</P>
<P>
Looking inward over the inner city, it appears as though there are
several groups of trolls, orogs, and orcs gathering. The group 
contemplates various plans for sallying forth from the gatehouse 
into the inner city, both with and without the help of the Black 
Lions currently stationed at the gatehouse. Donner goes to talk 
to the leader of the advance force.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Capt. Tarin:</B> ...and keep those archers suppressed! (turning to Donner) Yes, your highness? 
 
<P>
<B>Donner:</B> Hey, we're thinking about going after some of the groups forming in the city. Would you be willing to send about 30 of your guys with us? 
</P>
<P>
<B>Capt. Tarin:</B> I'm under orders to hold this gatehouse until 
 relieved. I can do it with fifty men (he eyes 
 the giants and war trolls approaching from the 
 inner city)...but not with twenty.
 
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Donner looks at the closest group of enemies gathering. It is
difficult to tell how many groups are forming in the plazas and 
courtyards of the inner city due to the high density of multi-story 
structures. The group argues for a while about how to proceed. It 
is unclear if things would be best served by going out and disrupting 
some of the forces gathering in the inner city.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> I had one bad thought, there may be archers in those buildings. If so, that could be a problem for us.
<P>
<B>Party:</B> (Continues to argue the best course of action)
</P>
<P>
<B>Kieran:</B> I've got a solution.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Kieran pulls out the Deck of Fate and performs an Augury for going
out after the nearest enemy group. Kieran has gotten proficient at
reading the cards and they appear to be saying "defeat gilded
by glory". The group decides not to go into the inner city.
</P>
<P>
Travian borrows Grackle's spyglass and looks at one of the two 
smaller groups of troops. It appears that there are between 12 
and 20 large figures--each appears large enough to pick up a horse 
and throw it. They are all armed and armored. There are three 
ettins and at least four larger than the ettins.
</P>
<P>
Another group appears to mainly contain war trolls. There appear
to be several, but it is difficult to see. Travian estimates that
there are at least six of them. Scattered in the plaza nearby,
there is definitely a crowd of orcs.
</P>
<P>
The groups of giants and trolls, being fewer in number, seem likely
to complete their muster soon and head for the gatehouse. Meanwhile,
the main body of the Black Lions (some 945 veteran troops) approaches,
under some harassing fire from the walls of the inner city. It appears
they will make it to the gatehouse, but it is unclear to the party
what the tactical situation at the gatehouse will be by the time they
arrive. Donner contemplates several actions for delaying the forces
in the inner city. He has some misgivings about setting fire to parts
of the city, since the city presumably contains some civilians.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> Hey Tarin, what are your thoughts on using fire?
<P>
<B>Capt. Tarin:</B> Each man carries at least one flask of volatile oil 
 and the means of setting it alight. We fully intend to 
 use this during our battle with the trolls. (shrugs) 
 The city may suffer, but we intend to win.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kieran:</B> Hmmm...there's a lot of trouble brewing out there.
 There should be something we can do.
</P>
<P>
<B>Capt. Tarin:</B> In my opinion, we haven't lost the element of surprise 
 yet. That's why we attacked by stealth, after all. 
 Don't assume the enemy knows what's going on here at the 
	 gatehouse. Right now, we look like orcs up here.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
The group decides to watch what's going on both inside and
outside the walls of the inner city. As the group watches, the 
orcs approaching the gatehouse are shot by Capt. Tarin's men. 
Ander and Kieran notice the quivers on downed orcs are vanishing. 
A few minutes later, a heap of quivers clatters to the ground atop 
the gatehouse. Apparently, there are invisible troops gathering 
the extra quivers off the orc bodies.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Capt. Tarin:</B> (Sees them staring at the quivers; shrugs) If we're going to hold this position, we'll need ammunition.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Looking outside the wall, it appears as though the bulk of the main 
army is encountering larger pockets (around 20) of orcs. As expected, 
their march toward the inner city will be a fighting retreat. Due to 
the pressure, they have begun moving towards the inner city ahead of 
schedule.
</P>
<P>
From the inner city, it appears the groups or giants and trolls are
traveling along the road towards the gatehouse. Each of the two larger 
groups forming nearby, composed of orogs and a few larger creatures, 
appear to be nearly a thousand strong now.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Why don't we go out and wait in ambush for the groups heading towards the gatehouse? After they hit the gatehouse, we come up behind them.
<P>
<B>Capt. Tarin:</B> If they're not throwing boulders, that tells me that
 they think that the orcs still hold this place.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Yeah, but we can get into a flanking position on any 
 groups attacking here.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kieran:</B> If we wait for the forces to hit the gatehouse, we
 probably won't want to fight any forces attacking the
	 walls, because there will be too many for us to
	 handle and without the protection of the gatehouse.
</P>
<P>
<B>Capt. Tarin:</B> Defending a fortified position generally doesn't
 call for a flanking maneuver.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
More orcs appear to be getting shot off the walls by Capt. Tarin's men. 
The first large group of orcs have moved to the wall and are swarming up 
the scaffolding and ladders which line the inside of the city walls. 
Some of them appear to be larger than normal. There are a few groups of 
orcs which have attacked the gatehouse--and it appears as though the flow 
of troops is increasing. From time to time, dense packs of orcs rush 
along the wall to the gatehouse. Most of these are shot down by Capt. 
Tarin's archers, but some few reach the gatehouse doors. Grackle 
volunteers to go to the wall level of the gatehouse to help hold the 
doors against such rushes.
</P>
<P>
Inside the gatehouse, the Black Lions have set up a squad of men at 
each door. The doors are left ajar, and two swordsmen wait just 
inside. Two spearmen stand just behind them. As Grackle watches, an 
orog bursts through. He is immediately met by a hail of blows and 
collapses. One of the soldiers rolls the body out the door with his 
spear, and another eases the door back to its slightly ajar position.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Grackle:</B> Hmm, looks like they have it under control.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
The lead elements of the Black Lions arrive at the gate. Tarin orders 
his gatehouse archers to establish a kill zone in the inner city just 
inside the gate. Immediately, a few hundred Black Lions pour through 
the gate and begin establishing a perimeter near the gatehouse. Small 
fire teams (10 or so) break off and go door-to-door securing buildings. 
The trolls and giants charge the expanding Black Lion perimeter.
</P>
<P>
Two Fireballs explode in the mass of trolls and five Flaming Spheres
begin rolling through them as well. The lead elements of the Black 
Lions, led by Hagal himself, set themselves for battle with the war 
trolls and giants.
</P>
<P>
Donner surveys the situation back outside the walls. It appears as 
though the Aquitanian troops are dealing out approximately three times 
the casualties they are taking, but small pockets are beginning to 
rout under the pressure. The plan is for the main force to approach 
once the walls are secured, so they can get friendly covering fire 
rather than enemy harassing fire.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> How soon are you going to send the signal?
<P>
<B>Capt. Tarin:</B> Within five minutes. Our troops are beginning to
 secure the walls now.
</P>
<P>
<B>Black Lion Messenger:</B> Your Highness, have you sustained any
 casualties?
</P>
<P>
<B>Donner:</B> Uh, no.
</P>
<P>
<B>Black Lion Messenger:</B> Commander Hagal was worried because we saw
 no commotion going on around the inner keep.
</P>
<P>
<B>Donner:</B> Do you need any help along the perimeter?
</P>
<P>
<B>Black Lion Messenger:</B> Well, we could definitely use help, but we
 dare not approach within 200 feet of the
			 keep until we get the all-clear from your
			 team. We were sort of counting on you to spy
			 out or pacify the keep.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Donner continues to watch the combat. The Black Lions appear to have
the perimeter held against the war trolls and giants. Donner sees the 
signal given to the rest of the army. The group begins making plans to 
head towards the inner keep.
</P>
<P>
It appears as though some of the Aquitanian troops are having morale 
problems with the retreat to the inner city (Donner's tactical roll: 
"2"). Donner grabs Ander, Colin, and Travian to help him 
rally the forces in the outer part of the city. They unfurl the flying 
carpet and fly out to the Aquitanian lines. Donner orders Travian to help 
the troops and Colin to organize the knights. As the members of the 
party are dropped off, they begin organizing the troops.
</P>
<P>
(Donner's Rally Roll=2+1) After dropping off Colin and Travian,
Donner attempts to organize the bulk of the retreat. He issues
several orders, but the troops there don't appear to be rallying
effectively.
</P>
<P>
(Colin's Rally Roll=20+2) The cavalry are split into two groups, one 
covering the downhill flank and one covering the uphill flank. Upon 
Colin's appearance, the downhill knights immediately form up and begin 
aggressively tearing up the orcs harassing their troops. The heavy 
lancers make one very visible charge, which helps the morale of nearby 
Aquitanian troops. As Colin moves to the uphill side, he sees that his 
squire, "The Ox", is "borrowing" Colin's horse and weapons. He's doing 
well, so Colin just claps him on the back and encourages him. The uphill 
flank, facing less opposition, detaches a unit to clear some orcish 
skirmishers away from the Aquitanian rear guard. The relief is welcome, 
and the Aquitanian archers rally.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Colin:</B> (Surveys situation) Well, things seem in order here. Where's Donner?
<P>
<B>Knight:</B> (Glances over to where the troops are disorganized)
 I think he's over there.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
(Travian's Rally Roll=14+7) Meanwhile, Travian wades into battle 
alongside the front-line troops. His holy aura protects the troops 
near him while his magical blade flashes through orc after orc. After 
a few rounds of combat, the troops see the dancing sword (many exclaim 
"The legends are true!"). With renewed confidence, the 
Aquitanian troops redouble their efforts and close ranks, breaking the 
back of this latest orcish assault.
</P>
<P>
In short order, it appears that the retreat is doing well. Over the
course of the rallying effort, Travian has fought 30 orcs and taken
some damage. After the retreat is brought to order, Donner gathers
up the party members and heads back to the gatehouse.
</P>
<P>
In the meantime, the group left back at the gatehouse makes a plan
to scout out the inner keep. Donner sends Kieran, Grackle, Travian,
and Colin on the carpet to scout out the area. The walls of the inner 
keep appear to be magically trapped. While there, the group sees two 
giants enter the keep, fleeing the battle in the inner city.
</P>
<P>
The plan is to approach invisibly. Kieran will swap into Kill'Dar's 
body and cast Dispel on the wall. If the trap is dispelled
effectively, the group will close in. Otherwise, Kieran will trigger
the trap. Donner volunteers to Levitate and hold onto the hem of the 
flying carpet. Kieran casts Dispel on the wall (Roll: 18). As the 
group closes, it appears that the bottom part of the wall is still 
trapped. So, Kieran stands on the leading edge of the carpet going 
over the glyphs. The moment he crosses the trap, a giant column of 
flame builds up and hits him. Combat ensues.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 1:</B> Two huge, roaring whirlwinds, approximately 60 feet high,
envelop the party. Most of the party identifies the creatures as air
elementals.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Matt:</B> Holy shit! Aw, man, I've been telling John all WEEK that 
 they weren't really air elementals. I was like, "Kyle 
 wouldn't be THAT cruel."
<P>
<B>GM:</B> (shrugs, starts rolling damage dice)
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Donner is swept away from the carpet by the howling winds, and is 
pummeled against the wall of the keep. Donner's Levitation is still 
functioning, so he does not fall, but his control over his flight path 
is, well, limited. The rest of the party manages to hold on to their 
flying devices, but they take damage from the buffeting winds. Grackle 
and company are buffeted away from the wall, while Kill'Dar and Ander 
manage to make their way over the wall of the keep and land just behind 
the ramshackle structure (the one built on the site of the former Zeus 
temple).
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 2:</B> At the beginning of the round, one of the whirlwinds 
subsides. Travian is hit by an air elemental which is apparently in 
pursuit of the flying carpet and its passengers. Inside the keep, Ander 
and Kill'Dar are buffeted strongly by several more air elementals.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Ander:</B> Have you got a weapon capable of damaging these
 creatures?
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Yes.
</P>
<P>
<B>Ander:</B> Tell me which one it is so that I can take it from
 your dead body.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> (Glares at Ander) Hang on, I've got another idea.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Kill'Dar hands Ander a magically sharpened sword. He then tries to 
use the Dispel Evil power in the Ring of the Silverveils on one of 
the elementals, but fails to touch the creature. Ander and Kill'Dar 
are now being attacked by four air elementals. Meanwhile, back on 
the carpet, Travian hits his elemental. Colin draws Fulchar.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Colin:</B> (to Fulchar) Can you do anything to these?
<P>
<B>Fulchar:</B> These? Pah, they are weak. I can destroy them.
</P>
<P>
<B>Colin:</B> Great! Uh, how, exactly?
</P>
<P>
<B>Fulchar:</B> (with gleeful malice) I'll burrrn em down.
</P>
<P>
<B>Colin:</B> (Looks at Donner slamming into the wall like a ping 
 pong ball in spin cycle) Wellll...okay, do it.
</P>
<P>
<B>Fulchar:</B> (Flame Strike)
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Donner is burned pretty seriously and the Bracers of Defense are 
destroyed. In the meantime, Donner draws his magical sword and 
magical dagger and hits the elmental, killing it. The whirlwind 
subsides, but not before Donner is blown up and over the wall of 
the keep on a steadily rising trajectory towards the front gate, 
trailing smoke.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 3:</B> Kieran activates the Runestone of True Seeing. Colin
talks to Fulchar for a while, but manages to convince the sword not to
burn anything this round. Instead, Colin swings and damages the
elemental. Kill'Dar manages to touch the first one, but cannot tell
if the dispel is successful. Travian swings at the elemental attacking
him. Ander hits the elemental again, in the meantime taking damage.
Grackle directs the carpet towards the Prince and grabs him.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 4:</B> Kieran magic missiles the one in the air and Colin
swings several times and kills it. On the ground, Kill'Dar touches
another one, dispelling it. Ander attacks and hits one of the
elementals attacking him. Grackle lands the carpet and Donner hits
an elemental, killing another one.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 5:</B> As the carpet group lands, Colin attacks the remaining 
air elemental, killing it. The party begins looking around. Kieran
sees no traps along the wall. Grackle skulks around the corner and
sees a large mass of orcs, trolls, and giants coming around the corner.
He warns the group.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 6:</B> Kieran runs over and heals Donner.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Grackle:</B> (Looking at the several orogs, two trolls, and two
 ettins charging down the alleyway) I don't think I
		should handle this.
<P>
<B>Colin:</B> (Steps into the corridor)
</P>
<P>
<B>Grackle:</B> That will do.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
The orogs appears to be wearing half-plate with the emblem of the
Twisted Eye clan scrawled upon it. Colin injures the first orog as 
they run up. In the meantime, Travian moves to the alleyway on the 
other side of the ramshackle building, and sees just two orogs. But 
they appear to be extremely confident and well-equipped. One is in 
half-plate, wields a two-handed sword and wears a holy symbol -- the 
all-seeing eye of Gruumsh. The other wears full plate armor with 
visored helm and carries a vicious-looking two-handed axe. Both
have the twisted eye symbol enameled onto their breastplates, much
like nobility. Ander runs around the corner to help Travian.
</P>
<P>
As combat continues, Travian and Ander notice that the orog in 
half-plate with open helm appears to be not entirely orcish. They 
also notice that these two deliver and can take a tremendous amount 
of damage...these are not ordinary orogs!
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 7:</B> Kieran runs over and tries holding the two facing
Ander and Travian, but to no avail. In the other corridor Colin
slays one more orog. Travian attacks the axe-wielding warrior again, 
wounding him. In the meantime, Ander and Travian are badly wounded 
by the two warriors they face. In particular, Travian's foe has an 
axe which seems to cause Travian extra pain. Ander attacks and hits 
once more. Kieran is struck by a bolt of acid, but did not see where 
it came from.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 8:</B> Kieran heals Travian. Travian backs up five feet
and the orog follows, and Travian deals out a fair amount of damage.
Travian swings and hit twice this round. Ander and Travian get hit,
but manage to stay up. Kill'Dar refreshes his Improved Invisibility.
Ander fails a Will save and falls clutching at his throat. As Colin
runs over to help Travian and Ander, he gets hit by a poisoned arrow 
from an unseen archer. Kill'Dar flies up and casts Phantasmal Killer 
on the orog facing Travian. Donner comes up behind Grackle and casts 
Lightning Bolt behind the orogs facing Grackle.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 9:</B> Kieran continues to heal Travian. Colin runs up and
attacks one of the orogs, but misses. Travian hits the orog again,
but he remains standing. The orog facing Ander hits him twice,
killing him. Suddenly, Webs appear around Donner and Grackle,
trapping Donner but failing to stick to Grackle due to his Ring of 
Free Action. A war troll comes tearing through the webs, tossing an 
orog aside, to reach Grackle. Kill'Dar casts Magic Missile on the orog 
facing Travian. Grackle passes Donner the Ring of Wraithform. Donner 
takes the ring and activates it.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 10:</B> Kieran heals Travian again. Colin and Travian's sword
both swing at the axe guy and each hit once, knocking him unconscious.
The remaining orog steps back and lays hands on the unconscious orc,
getting him back up. Kieran gets hit by an arrow, and spots the shooter 
-- a figure hiding in shadows with a crossbow. At that moment, a Lightning 
Bolt shoots through the party bouncing through the party and affecting the
two orogs. Several more items get destroyed, including Colin's armor,
Kill'Dar's Corsican Helm, and Travian's bedroll. Kill'Dar casts
Lightning Bolt behind the party, catching one of the orogs. Kill'Dar's
Phantasmal Killer misses again. Grackle attacks the War Troll, wounding
it twice. Donner moves away and begins levitating up.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 11:</B> Kieran moves out of the way and grabs the flying
carpet and begins rolling it up. Colin hits the recently unconscious
orog and knocks him unconscious again, and hits the other orog once.
Travian's sword moves up to the next orog and hits him twice, knocking
him unconscious. Grackle shouts out "Don't worry about me! I'll
get myself out!" turns into a mouse and scurries away. Donner runs
towards the carpet.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 12:</B> Kieran unrolls the carpet. Colin steps back and
activates the Wall of Fire, cutting off the orogs and setting the roof
on fire. Travian uses the Dancing Sword to finish off one of the
orogs while he takes out the other unconscious orog, cutting off the
head and taking it. The crossbow-packing assassin moves out of the 
shadows to strike at Donner with a wicked-looking long fighting knife 
dripping with an oily substance. Donner spots him coming and is saved 
by his Stoneskin. Grackle turns into a spider and crawls off. Kill'Dar 
casts Magic Missile at the assassin, wounding him. Donner attacks and 
hits twice, wounding the assassin further.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 13:</B> Kieran gets on the carpet and casts Levitate on Ander's
body. Colin grabs Ander's floating body and gets on the carpet.
Travian considers grabbing the evil axe, but instead grabs Ander's
sword and his helm and gets on the carpet. Colin has a conversation
with Fulchar:
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Colin:</B> So, Fulchar, what can you do?
<P>
<B>Fulchar:</B> Lots of things. Can I burn things?
</P>
<P>
<B>Colin:</B> (Tries spotting Grackle) In a sec.
</P>
<P>
<B>Fulchar:</B> Do you smell oil? I smell oil.
</P>
<P>
<B>Colin:</B> <Sighs>
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
The assassin begins climbing the wall to escape, and Donner manages to 
wound him a bit more. As the assassin gets halfway up the wall, he 
suddenly vanishes. A giant and the war troll tear apart the remainder 
of the web. Kill'Dar mounts his magical bug, gains some altitude and 
heals the bug (which had been badly wounded by an earlier lightning 
blast and wind buffeting). Grackle makes his way towards the axe. 
Donner climbs on the carpet, casts ESP and finds the thief.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Thief:</B> Damn, they got both of them. I can't believe it. I'll have to go out into the city and see how the army is doing. Damn, they got here fast. Who are these guys?
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Donner also gets some names: Narg and Borshar (which he believes
are the two names of the big dead orogs). He also has surface
thoughts of gratitude towards someone named Zylan.
</P>
<P>
<B>Round 14:</B> Kieran flies the group away on the carpet. As they
fly away...
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Colin:</B> (To Fulchar) Burn the palace.
<P>
<B>Fulchar:</B> Really? Excellent.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
A giant wall of fire goes down the length of the manor, which quickly
ignites the roof. Travian hangs on to the severed head, but holds it
away so as not to drip blood on the carpet. As Colin and Kieran look
back, there looks to be a figure in ornate gold and black robes
hovering above the ramshackle building which then swoops down into
the courtyard. Presumably, this is the mage who cast Lightning Bolt
earlier.
</P>
<P>
With Grackle remaining behind, the war trolls and orogs stream into
the area looking for something to fight--they appear surprised to find
no one. One giant looks up and grabs a boulder. Donner gets more
thoughts from the thief: "Now I know them. We'll find them
again." He also gets a sense of identity, thinking of itself as
Gribnak.
</P>
<P>
As the group heads back towards the gatehouse, they observe the current
battle. Back at the inner keep, the Wall of Fire explodes in a huge burst 
of flame, spreading the blaze to most of the roofs in the keep. It 
appears as though the Black Lions are gaining ground inside the inner 
city. The back end of the army has reached the gatehouse and are entering 
the inner city. Grackle crawls over to the axe, turns into a giant eagle, 
and flies out of the keep. The nearby war troll swings, but misses.
</P>
<P>
Reports from the front lines indicate that the Black Lions have killed all 
the War Trolls and most of the giants in the fight for the inner city. 
The general battle appears to be very bloody, with many casualties on both 
sides. Kill'Dar observes the activity below but doesn't see any 
opportunities. He contemplates several actions, circles the keep, but 
decides to meet up with the party at the gatehouse.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Colin:</B> So, does anyone have any armor?
<P>
<B>Donner:</B> (Surveying the carnage) I think we'll be able to find
 an extra suit for you.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
The party contemplates the foes faced in the inner keep. There were
at least two giants, two war trolls, six air elementals, four members
of a character party and twenty or so orogs. Reviewing the battle,
the two warriors, the air elementals, and several orogs were slain.
</P>
<P>
When the group gets back, Fingle tells the group that he's used his
two Haste spells and his Phantasmal Force spell in aiding the Black
Lions.
</P>
<H2> Foes Fought </H2>
<P>
</P>
<P>
Base Experience: 
</P>