The enraged bull barrels into Torch, biting for a ferocious 26 points of damage. The lizardfolk join the attack by hurling javelins at the rest of you but fortunately they all go wide.
You are all up.
Aerys moves to flank the hippo with Torch, "Fight with me Torch" she shouts before she barks out, "Gelik, do something to keep them green warriors out of our way..." as she slams her sword towards the hippo.
Torch staggers under the hippo's assault. He feels ribs fracture within, and spits out blood. He throws a mute glance at Ralf, hoping for aid, but then he returns all his focus to the fight.
Ralf tries to keep Torch alive with a little boosted healing.
Frustrated that the lizard-guys are just a bit too far away, Gelik takes a few steps forward, and casts a spell.
Gelik rushes into the water and hits the lizardfolk with a faceful of swirling colors, knocking them all out. They sink under the water, unconscious.
The hippo just charged so all your attacks find their target. Bleeding profusely, the hippo finds itself trapped between Torch and Aerys and swings around and bites Aerys for 24 points of damage.
Now you are all up.
Torch continues to pummel the hippo, hoping that Ralf can help Aerys the way he helped him.
Torch opens an artery and the hippo bull collapses. All falls silent, only interrupted by the lowing of the other hippos.
You can kill the lizardfolk if you are feeling vindictive, but they usually carry little loot. Your best course of action is probably to press on before the rest of the herd smells blood.
After that your journey is largely uneventful for several days. At this point you enter the Screaming Jungle, which is self-explanatory as you hear the incessant cacophony of monkeys above. You quickly get used to the daily downpour of rain that occurs soon after midday and lasts a couple of hours, followed by a half-hour of so of dense fog. On the second day you run into a pair of deinonychuses, but they only hiss and retreat, seeing you outnumber them. A few days later a flock of monkeys pass screeching over your head.
But it is on the fifth day that something interesting happens. The trees grow broader and taller here, their gnarled branches rising to a tangled canopy that blots out the sun. Digging into their roots, giant, parasitic corpse-flowers blossom across the forest floor. Littering the banks of the river are several humanoid corpses, their armor and bodies ripped apart as if by large claws. Suddenly, a series of loud slams and crashing noises echo through the jungle, sending small monkeys in the treetops screaming in all directions.
Roll for initiative.
"I wonder what all them monkeys are excited about?"
Torch grips his scimitar, freeing the blade. "I think we're about to find out," he mutters in reply to Ralf, knowing the old salt can't hear him.
Aerys enjoys the quiet days, recovering her health with Ralf's help. The hirs on her neck stand on edge as they travel through the screaming jungle...
A bestial dire ape comes crashing out of the jungle right by you.
Aerys stands her ground and with her weapons ready waits for the ape to attack. "Stay behind me, Torch you know what to do!"
Aerys steps up to confront the ape, but she's not quite prepared for when it starts casting a spell at you. Her reflexes kick in though, and she manages to cut it deeply just as it tries to finish its incantation. Incredibly the ape still manages to go ahead and Aerys is struck with a Fear spell (Will DC 19). Fortunately she managed to distract it so as to shield the rest of you from its foul magic.
Then you are all up.
Hmm. Magical monkey.
Gelik casts a spell, hoping that the magic monkey isn't somehow resistant to being immolated.
If Aerys fails her save, Ralf uses Alignment Shield to let Aerys make another save. If she passes, he'll use Glitterdust on the ape.
"Face me, slave of Angazhan!" Torch cries, hurling himself forward.
Aerys gather up the deepest strength of mind, just fighting off her inclination to flee, then realizes her will is greater than the ape's magic.
Aerys slashes at the ape, "Try and scare me, would you." she says as her blade wings through the air.
Aerys cuts it again and the ape roars in fury and changes its tactics, trying to tear Aerys apart with tooth and claw instead. She manages to avoid the flailing claws though and it only bit for 6 points of damage.
You are all up again.
Adjusting his position to take advantage of the ape's focus on Aerys, Torch slashes again with his sword and also pummels it with his cestus.
Gelik casts again, his face scrunched up in effort.
Ralf hits the ape with Discordant Note.
sonic damage + staggered for 1 round, Fort DC 17 for 1/2 damage and no staggering
Aerys grits her teeth and strikes out at the ape, whilst trying to avoid the strong arms of the beast counter-striking.
You will indeed be flanking this round. But then something weird happens. As Torch's blow lays the ape low, something rises out of its prone shape, a medium-sized bat-winged figure, dark and insubstantial were it not for the glint off its sharp teeth and claws.
The monster immediately starts casting some sort of spell (defensively) and a demonic crocodile appears behind Torch and bites him for 11 points of damage.
Gelik, Ralf and Aerys: you can redirect or reconsider your actions according to the new situation. You are all up. And yes, you are still flanking.
"What in the Nine Hells is that?" Torch cries out, just before massive jaws snap around his leg.
Aerys tries to strike this bat like creature.
planes:
spellcraft:
"That crocodile -- tain't all real, it's made out of shadowy stuff and it's only partly there. Don't you believe it!"
Ralf will try glitterdust on the gloomy bat-winged shape.
Gelik takes an involuntary step back, speechless for once. His face twists in concentration; he's going to immolate this monster if it's the last thing he does. (And it may well be.)
Aerys's sword passes harmlessly through the creature's insubstantial form. Gelik's spell does some more damage, but fails to set it on fire. Ralf covers it in glitter, giving it an eerie sparkle, but it can still see just fine.
Torch is up, then the monster.
Torch launches a full attack at the demonic crocodile, knowing that he has real wounds despite what Ralf claims.
With Ralf's help Torch realizes the nature of the crocodile and manages to hit its weak spot, making it dissolve.
The monster hisses and goes after Torch tooth and claw. Its teeth connect and he feels a chilling sensation running through his bones.
Then you are all up again.
"My sword went straight through it, it did no damage. Tell me how do I damage it." says Aerys lines of worry across her face.
Ralf gives Torch some boosted healing.
Kick it in the balls!
Gelik pulls a card from his sleeve and tosses it on the ground. He points at the bat-winged thing. Get 'im, boy. Kill!
Torch slashes at the thing with his scimitar, hoping the enchanted blade will prove more effective than Aerys' sword.
Seeing Torch's magic sword scythe into the unnatural apparition, Aerys drops he sword and takes out her dagger, which has a light blue glow. She stabs at the floating enemy, hoping to take some of the things life force from. "Now you will be banished to a true death."
Torch and Aerys manage to connect with the insubstantial shape. They do little damage, but enough to annoy the demon and cause it to try to shroud itself in darkness. At that exact moment, though, the illusory peryton makes a dive for it and disrupts its concentration, and the magic darkness fades again.
You are up again.
Ralf tries to blast it with a burst of sound.
discordant note, sonic damage + staggered for 1 round, DC 17 Fort save for 1/2 damage and negate staggered
"We're on the right track!" Torch says through gritted teeth, taking another swing at the ephemeral horror.
Yes, that's the way, my pet! Again!
Gelik gestures to the illusory peryton, directing it to dive at the monster again.
He then casts once more, still trying to immolate the damn thing.
Aerys tries to cut it once more.