The death toll rises...

After last weeks success with the Red Horn minotaurs, victory seemed
assured, quickly reconvening with the Broken Axe and the chieftain
Markuli, a plan was formulated to continue the attack on the Red Horns
3 days hence.

The party recuperated quickly using Quercus's healing spells and had
relearnt a new set of spells for the second day.

Half way through the second day there parties plan was interrupted by
the Red Horns attacking en-masse, everyone heard the bellowing war
cries of the Minotaurs from the south and went to aid the Broken Axe.
They found 8 Broken Axe Minotaurs fighting and losing ground to 10
heavily armoured Red Horns.

The battle was joined, spells, charges, curses and blood flew. The Red
Horns appeared to be the elite shock troops of the Red Horns, and
butchered their way past the Broken Axe.

Ran's was in weretiger form and summoned a bear which provided useful
blocking and grappling of Red Horns to the East
Bingly's charges with the Lance wrought severe damage to the minotaurs
Oren's axe swung with deadly intent
Rosia's darting sneak attacks inflicted much pain
Isaack's fired off Scorching Ray's and Magic Missiles to hurt many minotaurs
Quercus's healing kept everyone on their feet
Davinia's arrows rained down.

The defensive position of the party was attacked from the side as 3
more Red Horns burst in, Rankuli the chieftains son was attempting to
hold the southern corridor to prevent the Red Horns advancing further.

Then disaster, Isaack found himself facing a raging minotaur barbarian
that had burst into the middle of the group and was hit with two
mighty blows from its GreatAxe. Isaack was mortally wounded,
staggered and fell to the ground slain.

Oren was struck down, but revived by Quercus.
Rankuli the chieftain's son was slain callously whilst unconcious.

The fighting to the north grew closer and as the Red Horn's were
finally finished, the medusa appeared using a magic that made her
appear blurred.

Ran used blindsight and closed his eyes, charged and grappled the
creature but was struck by the medusa's snakes and poisoned, the party
attacked and as they managed to kill the medusa a huge Red Horn
minotaur appeared. He hit Ran three times in quick succession,
sending him crashing to the floor unconcious.

Oren and Bingly took the minotaur on and started trading blows, though
the Red Horn was dealing out heavy damage. They were helped out by
the arrival of Markuli the Broken Axe chieftain who flanked the Red
Horn minotaur and together with the aid of one of Ran's summoned
creatures they slew the Red Horn.

Quercus healed Ran as Markuli called for the party to follow him to
the north to carry on the fight...

The massive minotaur clash, a result of a little reconnaisance that
went wrong, ended with the party escaping out of rockfilled tunnel.

The fight, which raged for two sessions, depleted just about every
spell the party had, most of its hit points and killed 28 minotaurs.

Having a defensible position was key and not being surrounded by the
minotaurs aided greatly in the parties fighting ability. The Minotaurs
used their size and toughness to perform the overrun action, with some
success, getting in amongst the party to cause havoc. Oren was knocked
prone and nearly ended being trampled and beaten to death.

The arrival of a magic using minotaur hastened the decision to leave,
Ran summoned a burrowing creature and used a stone shape spell to
create a tunnel. Though this took some time.

The vanguard fighting retreat was done by Bingley and Rosia, who's
ring prevented her from running out first.

The evacuation was held up crucially by Oren who became wedged in the
narrow tunnel, but eventually got free.

Blood soaked and hurt the party escape with the howls of raging
minotaurs in the background, it seems now is a good time for the
Broken Axe to attack whilst the Red Horn are reeling from this huge
loss

Session 34

The adventurers decided to use part of the three days they had spare to scout out a northern
route into the Red Horn territory prior to the planned all-out attack.
They eventually came upon a door blocked by fallen masonry, once cleared of rubble the door was found to open into a long Hall, with exits leading east and west.

Signs of hooved footprints were found.

It was confirmed to be Red Horn territory when the party encountered a lone Red Horn Minotaur passing through the hall, a brief battle ensued and the minotaur was dispatched quickly.

The party decided to scout the eastern corridor. Evidence of more minotaurs was found including a training area, the scout mission was interrupted by the sounds of approaching minotaurs.

The four minotaurs were heading in the parties direction and they moved back to the hall to ambush them, but it seems the Minotaurs were alerted to the waiting adventurers. Neither side was surprised and a fight ensued, luckily due to the fight taking place in the mouth of the corridor the fight went the parties way and they had minimal casualties.

The party then investigated the western corridor from the hall, and found after several rooms that it was a dead end, upon returning to the Hall they found it occuppied by a number of angry looking minotaurs, being effectively trapped they charged en-masse into the hall and gave fight.

Five minotaurs battled the party, during the combat the sounds of a rockfall could be heard from the northern passage they had used to gain access into this area. It seems their known escape route is blocked.

We left the fight with five minotaurs killed and many in the party injured and more minotaurs showing up, the sounds of alarms ringing through the halls. The party are desperately trying to fight their way out of the hall and find another route, but the minotaurs are now enraged and a determined to slay the intruders...

Session 33

Whilst the party only fight was with a single manticore, which they dealt with effectively, their quandary about which vows and oaths they need to uphold have led to an interesting decision.

The promise to the Raskmarik has been seen as null and void due it being made under duress.

The party have decided to side with the Broken Axe minotaur side and attempt to defeat the Rakshasa and the Red Horn tribe. A plan has been formulated involving a two pronged attack on the Red Horn positions and Graaks potions (made with the hearts of manticores) which can turn stone to flesh.

The intention being is to get back to the Medusa's trophy hall, by crossing the eartquake chasm via some rope bridge contraption, turn the petrified statues back to flesh and mount a surprise attack from the south with these new re-inforcements. The main force will creates a diversionary attack from the west. The extra reinforcements tip the balance of numbers in favour of the Broken Axe.

The slight sticking point is the captive dwarves Gurik and Gardarik who are childhood friends of Oren, if the plan should go awry then it may seal their fate.

Session 32

The players had two big fights this week.

The Dragonne was relatively easy, with its Roar attack only slowing the party down. It was unable to maneouver within the narrow corridor confines and was quickly surrounded and harried.

However the long sought after Manticores proved somewhat more difficult due to their lethal ranged tail spike attacks and the fact that there was five of them.

The first manticore was also the largest, the party discovered its lair but did not want to venture into it.
Bravely Quercus hobbled down the corridor, his wooden leg not providing any ability to move silently was quickly detected and the Manticore attacked and let out a series of roars and calls.

The group were peppered with the Manticore's spikes.

The rest of the adventurers joined the battle, Quercus was the field medic providing invaluable support to the frontline troops Oren and Bingly.

But within 2 rounds a further 2 manticores answered their leaders call and approached from the southern corridor. The party split in to to combat this new threat. Ran, Dusty, Isaack and Davinia defended against the new threat.

Whilst Oren, Bingly, Quercus and Rosia battled the ferocious Manticore leader.

Spikes, axes, teeth, swords and arrows were used and the blood flew.

Both Oren and Bingly, both reduced to single digit hit points on a couple of occasions.

Just as Quercus, Oren, Bingly and Rosia thought they were gaining the upper hand two more Manticores appeared from back of the leaders nest room, which now opened onto the earthquake chasm.

Quercus was hit by a number of spikes and felled but revived by a healing potion delived by Rosia.

Oren and Bingly refused to fall back and gave as good as they got, finally killing the lead manticore and one of its pack.

Luckily the other half of the party had dealt with the two manticores attacking them and came to their aid.

Ran shape changed into a dire lion and went in hand-to-hand with the
final manticore, Ran's first devastating attack nearly killing the
beast, but its retaliation was equally powerful and Ran went down in
an hail of spikes.

Oren delivered the killing blow and the party breathed a big sigh of relief.

The manticore hearts were retrieved but now the dilemma begins with how the party resolves its various vows and oaths. :)