Scene Three: The Hammer

Tactics outline: So, we're gonna need Olly and Fargrim on griffon-back to set the avalanche off. What're they gonna need for Animal Handling rolls to keep from falling off and dying, and getting up to where they need to be? Once we're up and the first wave gets to where we need them, Fargrim and Olly fire off their spells and we make combo Nature+Arcane checks to actually set off the avalanche, and those rolls set the DC for the orcs to avoid the snow, which is less comforting than I'd like, given how low our skills are in that area. With that as the plan, a question. Do we want to try and fill in the pass here before the orcs get here, so we don't have to worry about fighting off the orcs that manage to avoid the avalanche, and end up on this side of the pile of rocks and snow?

I am back from the not so cold north of Alaska. Was able to see some mountains, glaciers, icebergs, and the like firsthand. Since my wife feels the compulsive need to shop in every crappy tourist store in Alaska I also have an extensive photo collection of dumb and funny t-shirts. Shopping should be allowed when on vacation.

The griffon circle around your wagon while you discuss your battle plan. One begins to move toward the horses hidden to the rear of the party until Khalad gives it a look of disapproval.

"If we block the path the griffons could bring us over to the monastery. This would destroy our element of surprise if we did it before the first avalanche. It would give stop them from using this path to move troops. I can take one of the smaller ones with me." He points to Oloric. "The bearded elf seems to have some skills with a griffon. Fargrim should ride alone. i would put more of a strain on my girls than his meaty shanks will."

So please role an animal handling to stay on the griffon (advantage for saddles) and then the nature + attack roll to determine the DC. Let me know if you are attacking the first wave, second wave, or blocking the path.

Oloric mounts the griffon behind Khalad. He notes the saddle has 2 seats one behind the other. The ride is a glorious thing the dragon blood quickens in his veins and he does not even notice the biting cold. The sky raining down death is where he belongs. Khalad points and Oliric's firebolts arc to the side of the mountain. The slide then rumble of the falling of ice, snow, and rock begins.

"Fine piece of work laddie." Khalad yells over the rushing wind.


Grunx raced with his pack brothers at the wagon turned sideways in the gap. He would prove he was a orken male worthy of armor and sword. An orc worthy to be bred to the finest of the tribe. He bare feet did not notice the cold. He did not notice the distance ran. He noted only the smell in the air of griffon, dwarf, horse, human, and most of all the sent of elf. He would taste elf today. He didn't notice the rumble over the pounding of the blood raging through him. It was not until the first wave of white rolled over the first of his pack that he noticed the mountain was falling on them.

OOC: You can't tell how many are downed in the mass of snow but it looks to be over half of the first wave are gone broken beneath the avalanche.

Fargrim climbs on his griffon and the creature moans with the weight. In it's weakened state it climbs slowly unable to gain the altitude of the other two beasts. As the avalanche starts Khalad notices his baby way to low he screams,"Fargrim you always where a ..." The rest is lost to Fargrim as the rush of winds from upper avalanche slams against the griffon. The beast spins and flips in the wind and snow Fargrim leaves his seat and is spinning helplessly in the flood of snow and ice. A piece of stone smashes him then another he finally hits snowy ground rolls, hits another stone with his back, and stops as 4 feet of snow pours over him.

The griffon freed from the additional weight pulls out of the spin and rights itself flying away toward Khalad.

Those at the wagon cheer Oloric but then see Fargrim go down into the mass of chaos. With the snow still pouring out in all direction it is near impossible where the rotund dwarf ended.

OOC: Fargrim takes 19 damage from the fall, bounce, smash, and bashing of falling off a griffon into a avalanche. He is buried a little north of the main group of wolves and orcs. He will require a compound 33 athletics check to dig out of the snow. If he tires for multiple turns he can keep adding up the attempts until he makes 33, of anyone else finds him and helps dig it will also be added to the check. Once you make 33 he is free. Fargrim has disadvantage on his rolls for being buried.

He is a 1/2 mile from the wagon but the other 2 griffons are flying overhead. To spot him is a perception check with DC equal to the athletic check needed. So right now it is a 33 to see where he is.



The beardy the elf and Deva are on one griffon. Khalad and Oloric are on another. Sneak stabs a lot and Righteous rage are at the wagon. The orcs that survived are digging out of the snow just like Fargrim. The wolves actually out ran the avalanche and are still racing to the wagon. Since order of action now makes a difference please roll for initiative.

Delrin draws his bow and starts to survey the field as he sits in the passenger seat. He suggests "We may want to make sure he wasn't drawn South. In my experiences, I haven't met many dwarves that were fond of swimming, so we need to be sure he wasn't swept into that lake."

Initiative: 17.

Izzy Init: 15

On his turn, Izzy's gonna start moving forward toward the blocked area, since it looks like the avalanche happened a lot farther down the canyon than we'd planned. Dash action, so 60 ft further down.

Fargrim Init: 10

Fargrim's athletics checks: 15/19, so 15 for this round. Fargrim's gonna start trying to dig to the surface on his action. It's probably gonna take a while.