Session 175: Conclusion of the ambush

 A Grueling Battle in the Moat House

The adventuring party without a name found themselves in a desperate struggle within the confines of the moathouse. What began as a straightforward encounter quickly devolved into a brutal test of their skills and resolve.

The party faced a diverse array of foes, including:

•Bugbears: These large, brutish humanoids were a significant physical threat.

•Gnolls: Towering, hyena-like creatures standing seven feet tall, some wielding battle axes and others long bows.

•Guardsmen: Human opponents, including a captain, armed with swords and crossbows.

The Tides of Combat - the battle was a chaotic dance of steel, magic, and desperate maneuvers. Early in the fight, a spell of bless aided the party, but its effects soon wore off, leaving them more vulnerable. Characters like Zorla found themselves the target of relentless attacks. The party had to adapt quickly, changing tactics and working together as a team. 

Key Moments and Tactics

•Contristo's Oil: One party member, Contristo, utilized oil vials to inflict burning damage, proving surprisingly effective against the gnolls. This was a clever combination with his dagger attacks.

•Weapon Variety: The battle highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of different weapons. 

•Flanking and Backstabs: Characters like Crassus and Melissa were keen to gain tactical advantages like flanking and backstabs.

•Missile Fire: Missile attacks were limited by the lack of clear targets.

Casualties and Turning Points

•JT's Fall: The party suffered a major loss when JT was felled by a morning star attack.

•Zorla and Nathaniel's Wounds: Zorla and Nathaniel were also severely injured.

•Morwenna's Critical Blows: Morwina made a series of crucial hits to damage enemies

Despite the losses, the party was able to turn the tide, eliminating several of the gnolls using fire. They eliminated key threats and gained the upper hand. The last gnoll was finally killed after several wearying rounds of combat. 

The Aftermath

The battle left its mark. Several party members were rendered unconscious due to their injuries. A serious wound check revealed that Nathaniel, Morwenna, and JT would be out of action for multiple weeks. Zorla managed to recover, but the healing resources of the party had been depleted.

Loot and Recovery

•Loot: The party gathered a substantial amount of loot, including a silver necklace with gems, gold pieces, weapons, and armor. They decided to sell it in town, distributing what gold, silver, platinum and copper coins they found amongst themselves.

•Contristo was stent back to town to hire a cart to transport the wounded and the equipment back to town.

•The encounter ended with the group deciding to spend some time in town while their wounded recovered from their serious wounds, with an understanding there might be as much as 5 weeks of downtime. They also planned to sell the loot they acquired and to restock their equipment. The party had been through an intense and hard fought battle tested them physically and mentally.