[WFRP2e] The Power of One - Part 2 - "Transire Benefaciendo"

[MrAbdiel]

The troll sniffs, sniffs again; sniffs the torch and recoils; sniffs the pillar to which Augusto was tied; and then steps out onto the moist ground. It animates with an almost canine excitement; sets of five or six big steps, and then it sniffs the air again; another five or six, then adjusts it direction slightly. In these first few movements, it moves closer to the reeds where you hide; then laterally away; then back toward you again. It is tracking. Probably, tracking the scent of Augusto, infused into the stone where he has been tethered for days.

Some combination of your insistent voice and the troll's motion snaps Elda from her fugue. Her rage against you has vanished now; all mankind are brothers and sisters in the shadows of such monsters. She gives Rafaello a shove, but the lad is frozen; his numb legs slip from under his crouch and he and Augusto sprawl with a minimum of racket. The troll doesn't seem to have heard it, but Rafaello's insensibility reads immediately to all of you as the problem it is - remaining where you are even a moment longer runs a real risk of all of you being caught with the monster. It is costing you seconds you may not have.

She looks at Cesare, who reads her immediately with the wordless instinct of kids who have grown up together. He hisses at once:

"Don't-"

But it's too late. She bounds to her feet and bolts out of the brush toward the troll and off to one side. The intuitive plan is simple - I'll distract it, you get away.

But the young thieves have foolishness or courage in measure to their loyalty to each other, and Cesare and Gianni stand up, launching their sling bullets at the troll. Perhaps they don't know what you know - that without a great deal of fire, or an overwhelming barrage of damage, the troll is unlikely to suffer damage faster than it heals it. But they do not see inclined to leave each other behind. Dooming as it might be, it is in some ways admirable.

Spoiler: OOC:

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Attacks!

Cesare vs35 - (1d100)[37] for (1d10+3)[13]
Gianni vs35 - (1d100)[73] for (1d10+3)[5]

Narrative pending.

With your night eyes, you can track the passage of the bullet. The troll is visible enough - eternally sweaty, slimy and damp as it is, it is glimmering with a firelight outline from the torch you tossed down. But you alone see Cesare's sling bullet crack it in the side of the head and sink in through the skull. It's probably more luck than skill, but the lead pellet must be partially lodged in the troll's brain. It bellows and staggers and claws at its own head; black blood leaks out the hole down its side. Then it maps all its pain and frustration on to the form of Elda dashing to its side, and bounds after her at full pelt, closing the gap between them almost immediately!

Spoiler: OOC:

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The troll runs, and next turn will certainly be able to attack Elda. It has taken... an astonishing 22 wounds from that shot. You're up!