D&D Session 47 (8/31/22): The Siege of Bryn Shander (Part 2)

Text by Paul O'Connor, Dungeon Master 

There was a bit of strategizing, but ultimately the plan turned out to be Just Go For It. The impetuous barbarians urging Blah to action might have had some influence. There was also concern that Kostov's magic fog would lift for some reason.

So Go For It, they did, beneath the walls of Bryn Shander, with the melee unfolding across multiple vectors.

Arthur opened the battle courtesy of a fastball special from Blah, landing astride a giant's back and cleaving with a will. But his most memorable match was with a particularly savage winter wolf, who froze the half-man with his magical breath, then took Arthur on a bucking bronco ride while the halfling hung on the animal's back for dear life (while stabbing, always stabbing). It cost him a potion but Arthur finished the fight in triumph.

Khostov hovered about in his fogbank, lofting fireballs at the giants, and if one bled over and set several barbarians aflame, then c'est la guerre. Friendly fire, indeed! Not so friendly was a giant's return fire, a rock hurled by mighty muscles and damn near pulping the wizard where he hovered. But healing potions are a cure for any impetuosity.

Blah defeated a pair of giants in single combat, his vorpal blade proving irresistible, and even cleaving the head from a giant that had gone down on one knee. He was aided by fireballs from Khostov, to be sure ... and Dee Dah struck at the moment of decision. Old Blah was on his last breaths before the final giant fell -- his was a glorious day of battle. Blah tried a couple times to intimidate giants by tossing their severed heads around, which made for good press but didn't much impress his foes.

Those impetuous barbarians got what they wanted, getting smashed by giants and savaged by wolves. They were ready to quit the field at one point before rallying to Blah's command (and maybe tossing those giant heads around had some effect, after all). In the end they got as good as they got, driving away the bulk of the wolves; of the fifty spears that went in to battle, about thirty escaped death or significant injury. It was a good day to die, and a better day not to.

And as the last giant hit the dirt, the defenders of Bryn Shander sallied out to attack, just as Jarund Elkhardt led the bulk of the Reghed Barbarians into battle. Harshnag appeared, bleeding from a score of cuts suffered in his duel with Jari Stovald -- the last Harshnag saw of the evil frost giant, he and his army were being harried by Elkhardt's riders across the windy wastes of Icewind Dale.

The city is saved and the heroes are feted as liberators! Many happy reunions with Jenny and the Blue Mountain Brothers ... Victory! Victory! Victory!