Linah flows yet more healing into Grall, the priestess too feeling the strain from working so much divine energy.
Without further pause the gnoll barbarian charges across the room, the unlit firepit fortunately not slowing down his rush, although the spiritual ally adds a fresh cut to the back of his legs.
AOO Greataxe hit
Grall shouts something in gnoll as he closes , the barbarian bringing his falchion down and across with all of his might. But not all of his skill unfortunately. The priest's wounds are substantial but between armor, shield and what seems to be a layer of magical protections, his defenses remain sound and Grall cannot land a telling blow, his sword sliding off the priest's shield with a screech.
The remaining carrion swordsgnoll moves in behind and to the side of the barbarian and launches a sideslash aimed at his elbow. With his focus forward, Grall has no effective parry but his blur saves him a wound, the blow cutting nothing but air.
Scimitar vs Grall hit
miss!
Khalid 22
Linah 12a
Grall 12b
Carrion Guard 12c
Nuveril 12d
W Carrion Guard Archer 9a
Zeladiel 9b
High Priest 7
Adept 4
?
As the swordsgnoll steps in behind Grall, Nuveril sees her chance. Dashing through the dim light to the aura of illumination provided by the flaming sphere, she brings her hammer to bear on the back of the gnoll's knee just as it is turning to see what is coming up behind it. "Linah! Khalid! Bring the light!" she urges. The action is all on this side of the throne room now.
Zeladiel's sphere provides a possibly transitory, but sufficient, source of light for Nuveril to pick out her target and she repeats the same trick from a few moments ago, shattering the bones in the gnoll's knee into shards. Together with the bruises sustained from falling into the pit, the shock of the brutal strike seems too much for the gnoll to sustain and it pitches forward onto its face, its sword and shield falling from nerveless fingers.
The sole remaining archer, and together with the adept the sole remnants of the priest's strike force, is just out of Grall's reach and hastily moves further away into the darkness for all but Grall.
It looks between Linah, Nuveril and Grall, and with the later two apparently concentrated on the priest, chances a longer range shot at the former. The priestess doesn't see the arrow coming until half way through its flight, but has the presence of mind to keep her shield up and the shaft glances off it before harmlessly hitting her armour going sidewise.
Arrow vs Linah miss
Khalid 22
Linah 12a
Grall 12b
Nuveril 12c
Carrion Guard Archer 9a
Zeladiel 9b
High Priest 7
Adept 4
?
"Darn. I wonder how much healing that adept has left. Time to find out..."
The flaming sphere rolls merrily after the gnoll as Zeladiel shifts his aim ever so slightly to his right and fires another arrow.
flaming sphere (elemental fire, DC 16 Ref)
The adept seems to be getter at anticipating the rapid but direct movements of the sphere, scrambling backwards before it.
Reflex pass
Aiming his bow, the elf finds a gap in the adept's armour, the leather strips connecting the back and shoulder plates and lets fly but the arrow bounces off some kind of minor deflective shield.
The still badly wounded priest appears to have been miscalculated in waiting to draw its morning star, now within Grall's reach it can't do so safely. Yet its heavy shield is a formidable weapon in its own right and the enraged, off-balance Grall has little in the way of defenses beyond the toughness of his hide. Gripping the metal banded wooden frame in both hands, the priest bashes the barbarian again and again in the side, the power of the blows enhanced beyond the priest's own normal strength and its enchantments seem to have gifted the priest with amazing speed similar to your own unfortunately expired haste magic. Grall takes several bruising wounds although a last particularly viscious sidesweep is fooled by his blur, the priest hissing in frustration.
Shield Bash vs Grall hit
(smite)
Shield Bash vs Grall hit
(smite)
Shield Bash vs Grall hit
(smite)
miss!
Some way from Grall the spiritual ally switches attention to the adjacent Linah, the ghostly greataxe slashing at the priestess. An initial sideslash cuts though the links of mail protecting her ribs to cut the skin beneath while she catches a follow up flurry with her scimitar.
Greataxe vs Linah hit
Greataxe vs Linah miss
The adept seems to finally realise that moving from the sphere in its splint mail isn't doing any good and stays where it is, again applying its wand to the priest. The answer to Zeladiel's question is answered though as afterward the wand crumbles to dust in the adept's hand.
CLW
Gnoll Killers
Round 11
Khalid 22
Linah 12a
Grall 12b
Nuveril 12c
Carrion Guard Archer 9a
Zeladiel 9b FLAMING SPHERE EXPIRES AFTER ACTION
High Priest 7
Adept 4
?
Effects
Bulls Strength (Grall, Nuveril)
Enlarge Person (Grall)
See Invisibility (Khalid)
Weapon of Awe (Khalid)
Shield of Faith (Kahalid)
Mage Armor (Zeladiel)
Blur (Grall)
Gravity Bow (Zeladiel)
Notes
- Note darkness rules as normal. A light spell (Khalid, Linah) casts 20' of normal light and a further 20' of dim light. Linah has Sajan's lantern in her left hand.
- The 8' high barrier of carrion and rubble is blocking LOS to the middle of the chamber.
- The carrion pit is 25' deep at its northern section, it slopes up to the barrier at the south
A perception check with your action please.
Good, finally you arrre done cowerrrring prrriest! But yourrr puny shield barrrely even hurrrts. he bluffs...
Linah realises that the summoned spirit is her better in martial prowess. The cleric feints to the left then back away, fleeing towards the rest of the group in the hope that she can aid in it's masters defeat.
As the swordsgnoll collapses in front of her, Nuveril sees her chance: a clear path toward the gnoll priest, sheltering behind its shield beneath Grall's teeth and blade. She leaps the dead gnoll, her eyes on her target; but her foot comes down just on the edge of her defeated enemy's dropped shield, and the slight stumble at the beginning of the charge snowballs into a complete loss of balance at the end. Her focus on keeping her feet costs her arm in accuracy, as the hammer entirely fails to make contact.
Seeing the adept's wand dissolve, Zeladiel sweeps the flaming sphere one final time onto the adept before turning once more to the High Priest. With an utterance and twist of his lean, long fingers an arrow appears in his hand. Without a pause he lets it fly from his bow and it scythes precisely between his companions and into the High Priest.
flaming sphere (elemental fire, DC 16 Ref)
force missile
Khalid retrieves his weapon and moves toward the middle of the chamber, the dim light from his cantrip overlapping with the flickering illumination from the sphere.
Linah moves carefully away from the ally without giving it an opening. A good 60' away from the evocation now it will take some time for it to catch up with her. She focuses her lantern on Nuveril and Grall.
Bruised from the priest's blows but with plenty of fight left, Grall and the other gnoll trade a series of powerful blows, falchion vs shield as the barbarian taunts the follower of Rovagug again. And the barbarian's relentlessness is rewarded, his sword slipping through the priest's defenses, cutting through its magical shield, the tip of the blade sinking deep between the priest's ribs and coming out red.
A heartwound.
The priest stumbles, coughing up blood as more flows down its leg. Only its necromancy and dark resolve keep it mobile now.
Nuveril goes for and misses her killing strike, the priest stumbling back further, now fully on the defensive from the barbarians' weapons.
The remaining archer can see what is coming. Bow in hand it bolts straight for the stairs, following the fleeing pack.
The adept tries to evade the sphere yet again. But its luck has run out it seems. It stumbles, then trips itself, pitching forward as the sphere runs over it. Soon there is nothing but a shrieking pyre of burning flesh and hair, the spheres power spent.
Reflex fail
The priest never sees the evocation that drops it. Almost humble compared with the more powerful spells the mage has thrown at it and its fellows. The bolt takes it square against the temple.
Reeling like a drunken sailor, the gnoll's good eye focuses on Grall. It manages only a short grating curse before collapsing.
Rrovagug's currse .. on you trraitor! Everrything you love will be burrnt to ashes! My masterr's spawn ... rise..
Have you won...?
Khalid 22
Linah 12a
Grall 12b
Nuveril 12c
Carrion Guard Archer 9a
Zeladiel 9b
?
Gnoll Killers
Round 12
Khalid 22
Linah 12a
Grall 12b
Nuveril 12c
Carrion Guard Archer 9a
Zeladiel 9b
?
Effects
Bulls Strength (Grall, Nuveril)
Enlarge Person (Grall)
See Invisibility (Khalid)
Weapon of Awe (Khalid)
Shield of Faith (Kahalid)
Mage Armor (Zeladiel)
Blur (Grall)
Gravity Bow (Zeladiel)
Notes
- Note darkness rules as normal. A light spell (Khalid, Linah) casts 20' of normal light and a further 20' of dim light. Linah has Sajan's lantern in her left hand.
- The 8' high barrier of carrion and rubble is blocking LOS to the middle of the chamber.
- The carrion pit is 25' deep at its northern section, it slopes up to the barrier at the south
Khalid hasn't been able to shake the bad feeling that Zayifid has simply been waiting to make his move and the inquisitor's superb instincts hold him in good stead as the slim figure drops down from above directly behind him.
There is a slight shading around the jinn, an indication to Khalid that it is only his pre-cast divination that allows him to detect the attack.
But of greater concern is the silvery blade slicing sidewise at his vitals with what seems like unhuman speed.
Afterwards, the inquisitor will play the moment back and forth in his mind and try and determine how he parried. Agility? A spark of sentience from his enchanted blade? Vardishal's interference? Blind luck?
He'll never be quite sure but parry it he does, Tempest sliding against what could be its twin with a metallic squeal.
Scimitar vs Khalid miss vs AC 25
The first piece of uncertainty that you have seen from the jinn flickers in his eyes at the narrow miss although he does not back down, disengaging his blade and whirling it in a stunning display of skill.
Your tired, low on resources and your most powerful warrior is dead.
You've won! Just give me the scroll Khalid!
The fighting styles of the two combatants is a near mirror image, both warriors wielding their scimitars one handed to take full advantage of their skill and agility. The result is a dazzling sweep of cuts and parries and sidesteps that moves back and forth almost faster than the eye can follow. The jinn may look unarmoured but it is quickly apparent his fine clothing is as strong as metal, the inquisitor's blade scraping away without cutting the fabric.
Zayifid is faster, even with Khalid's magical belt. The inquisitor has never encountered anyone so fast.
Yet it is Khalid who draws first blood, the inquisitor spinning away from a disembowelling cut and launching a quickfire counter that cuts the jinn just above the left eye. A shallow wound, although a sure scar, and one that will make it difficult for the jinn to see as the fight continues.
Zayifid 31
Khalid 22
Linah 12a
Grall 12b
Nuveril 12c
Carrion Guard Archer 9a
Zeladiel 9b
Zeladiel, make us fast of you can!
Grall knows that the wizard can't reach us and make them fast at the same time so he rushes around the pillar up to G,H/17,18 and attacks the Djinn...
The blow takes the Djinn in the back...but does Grall sever the Djinn's spine?
As Linah delays, undecided on her course of action, Grall does not hesitate, leaving the fallen form of the priest behind as he tears around the pillars and yells to Zeladiel.
Near fourteen feet tall of gnollish muscle he barrels straight at the distracted jinn, whose focus is more on Khalid's flashing scimitar. Zayifid is clearly an expert swordsman but Grall's rage and strength make for difficult counters and the jinn can do little but sidestep from the scything sidewise blow that follows.
Any normal opponent would be left in two fairly equal sized pieces on the ground but the jinn's immense agility converts that to a bruising smash to the ribs.
Zayifid 31
Khalid 22
Linah 12a (delaying)
Grall 12b
Nuveril 12c
Carrion Guard Archer 9a
Zeladiel 9b
Nuveril's initial assumption is that the Gnome is a mere figment again, as it has presented itself to them thus far, but the visceral spray of blood elicited by Khalid's and Grall's blades certainly seems real. Dashing back across the gnolls' throne room, she skids to a stop by Khalid's side, hoping the Gnome will prefer stepping out of cover toward her hammer to remaining in reach of Grall's fury.
The archer, now the sole survivor from the gnoll's strike group runs up the stairs, following the tail of the fleeing group. If the sages record the moment the Carrion Tribe broke it must be now.
Zayifid 31
Khalid 22
Linah 12a (delaying)
Grall 12b
Nuveril 12c
Carrion Guard Archer 9a
Zeladiel 9b
Hearing Grall's shout Zeladiel scutters forward but is still too far away for much of his magic. He draws and fires a golden arrow that appears to fall well short of Zayifid . But when it strikes the ground it bursts into a cloud of golden sparkles that catches Zayifid on its perimeter and illuminates everything within it.
glitterdust (Will DC 16)
The jann seems to easily fight off the blinding effect but is coated head to toe with the golden dust. He evidently won't be able to rely on invisbility or hiding in the shadows, at least easily, until the effect wears off.
Will pass
Finding a momentary respite from her spiritual ally stalker Linah darts back into the battle between the pillars. She taxes her inner reserves to release another burst of healing energy.
Linah moves up behind Grall, a fair distance from the jinn's flashing blade and her channel heals the group while avoiding Zayifid and what looks from a casual inspection to be a just barely unconscious adept near her feet.
Round 13
Zayifid crosses blades with Grall before stepping back and sidewise. You have him in a rough quarter circle that will be complete in a few seconds and the jann seems to realise it. Covered in golden dust and hampered by two substantial wounds, his eyes flick between you, probing for weaknesses and he seems to gague whether he can make it past Grall to Linah.
Evidently not.
The blood welling above his left eye gives him a ghastly appearance. Anger and frustration play out unchecked on that formerly impassive face as he spits out a retort.
Keep it safe for me Khalid. I'll be retrieving it soon enough.
The jann seems to concentrate, out of reach of the now normal sized Grall. Behind him the air seems to shimmer. You can vaguely make out an overlay of what seems to be a sky full of clouds.
Before Grall can close the gap and bring his sword to bear, the jann steps back into the oval shaped distortion and vanishes. There are no sparkles, nothing to see with Khalid's enchanted sight. He is gone.
The jann used plane shift.
Combat over.
It is mopping up after that with every remaining gnoll in the Temple fleeing before the slayers. Of your foes most are dead although the priest clings (somehow) barely to life with one of the badly burned adepts breathing shallowly.
Zeladiel scans for magic, seperating the temporary auras on the adept's greataxes and the priest's heavy shield. You locate and loot several magic items on the priest.
Together with a wand on the unconscious adept.
And on the other gnolls.
You wrap Sajan's body in blankets. The wounds to his body are horrific but the giant monk's face looks almost peaceful...
Zeladiel makes his way cautiously to the ground and looks around. Casting detect magic he announces to the others, "I can't find any trace of him. He's gone."
Instead, Zeladiel points out the magic items and collects arrows for his bow.
Betrrrayerrr.... Grall grips his Falchion tightly and releases the anger...panting in effort...
He looks at Khalid, The next time we face him we must be rrready, we must have the means to stop him frrrom escaping...
He then helps build a litter to carry Sajan, his heart heavy from the loss of his friend.
Linah scans the great hall one last time with the lantern to make sure that all the gnolls are either gone or dead. Confident than none remain alive she drops the lantern to the ground and walks back to the throne where Sajan's body lies. Standing over her fallen comrade Linah touches her dawnflower shaped brooch making it glow before kneeling next to the monk to sanctify the body. She cries when she conjures water to wash the wounds and channels energy to close the wounds .
Nuveril hangs around over Linah's shoulder, uncomfortable with the open display of grief. "Linah's Sun-Lady will return him to life, will she not?" she mumbles. "She owes us as much."
Linah's careful ministrations restore Sajan's body to a semblance of wholeness at least. The priestess's channels close the gaping wounds while the conjured water washes away the litres of blood. The monk looks at least as he did in life although those eyes will not open again.
Khalid and Grall fashion their litter, breaking apart long pieces of wood from the weapon racks and lashing them to spears. It will not be easy to haul the monk's dead weight but you are determined not to leave him here. Zeladiel finds plenty of arrows remaining in the quivers of the dead archers.
The remaining carrion tribe at least has fled but you are uncertain of what reception might wait for you on the surface and you move quickly to investigate the unexplored parts of the complex looking for anything valuable left behind as well as for the slave pen.
The priest, servant of Rovagug, you leave to bleed out on the floor.
You find little of the former. It seems that the disorganisation following the Carrion King's death led to no small amount of looting by fleeing gnolls. Only the King's former chambers seem to have been untouched, perhaps because it was secured by the priest, and you find a few valuable items among the trash.
You have more luck with the later, finding the pen beyond the King's chambers and what looks to have been a barracks.
You smash down the door, a dozen near-naked huddling forms crying out from the glare of your light. The gnolls as you have learned are not kind masters and they're former slaves, all human males, are in poor shape, dirty, diseased and nearly unconscious from hunger and thirst.
One, a broken old man with barely a tooth left in his mouth, skitters forward on hands and knees and tries to grasp Khalid around the legs. Babbling out his gratitude he offers you a rich reward if only you will take him to Katapesh. Most of the rest are unable to do more than lie where they are.
In a side chamber you find the original Kadisa Al’udaak (or so you can only assume). He does seem to have been kept in somewhat better shape than the others. He his however utterly confused, spilling out a story about being taken by the gnolls on the road, his guards and adepts slaughtered and he himself being brought here to face seemingly endless questioning and occasional pain from the King's chamberlain and master of whispers, Rokova.
His spirit seems unbroken though and when you manage to find and return his holy symbol he works grimly with Linah to get the other slaves to the point where they can walk. Making your way back toward the central room you scavenge what clothing and footwear you can. The nights will remain as bitterly cold as ever until you make your way out of the high mountains.
And so dragging the litter you all make your way up, climbing the circular stairs to the base of the great dome that you saw from the mountain side what seems like an eternity ago. Blissful, natural light streams in from several holes, confirming that you've made it back to the surface at long last.
There were many traps here it seems although ironically several gnolls seem to have triggered them in their desperate flight. Their bodies lie where they fell. You open the door to a large internal room to see a giant scorpion looking back at you from the far side. Perhaps the source of the gnoll's poison although you do not wait around to find out, shutting and blocking the door and moving on.
A great pair of double doors and you emerge into the courtyard under a blue-grey sky. From the vale below you can hear the distant clash of weapons and gnollish cries. The gnolls fighting against each other it seems.
Perhaps only Nuveril has not yet had enough gnoll killing for today. In any event with the slaves in tow you take the chance to leave unmolested. Heading east you pass the salamander cave. Perhaps one day you will return to deal with or defeat Lesaar and his kin but not today.
The next few days are difficult to say the least. With the slaves your progress is slow and your supplies were running low without tripling your number. Your magic and survival skills makes the difference between death and mere inconvenience though. Kadisa and Linah are able to create magical food and water and provide blessings against the elements. Zeladiel is able to summon his magic huts for shelter. Grall, Nuveril and Khalid are able to hunt and set snares, the trio taking down a skinny mountain goat that nonetheless provides much welcomed fresh meat.
Above all you are alert for any sign of the devious jann. An invisible, flying, face-changing foe is not an easy one to anticipate though and it is easy to wear your nerves ragged anticipating an enemy that may or may not be watching.
Four days after the final battle you are a goodly way through the high mountains. The ground is hard and stony although Linah's magic is able to carve a channel and the rest of you gather rocks for a cairn.
Several night before Linah communed with Sajan's spirit and confirmed its wish to be left in peace, the mighty monk's purpose fulfilled. You have found the perfect spot, remote, with views of both Pale Mountain and a tiny Kelmarane, just a speck many miles down.
The five of you are left by the others to lower Sajan's body into its grave and say your goodbyes.
Grall waits for some of the others who can speak more eloquently to say their peace before saying his own simple words of goodbye.
You werrre a warrrior to the end Sajan. You spent yourrr life so that otherrrs may enjoy theirrr life and frrreedom...it was a worrrthy death.
May yourrr gods take you and give you the afterrrlife you deserrrve my frrriend...I will miss you.
He then turns and walks away to have a little solitude. He asks Sarenrae why it isn't him being laid to rest...he was sure that with the defeat of the Gnolls, this would be his last adventure...
After the battle, Zeladiel spends much of his time finding and identifying what he can, trying to distract himself from his fallen friend, from the constant thoughts, "I should have done better. I should have done more."
He pays particular attention to the slaves, helping to carry and feed them as he can, eager to help.
The first night is the worst. Exhausted from the battle and the flight from the Carrion King's lair, he is unable to summon the protective shelter so badly needed by all.
His mood lifts with the new day, and with Linah's message that Sajan has chosen peace. The knowledge changes Zeladiel, soothes him, and he swings almost to apathy for Sajan's demise.
However, when Sajan is finally laid to rest Zeladiel steps forward.
"We have all tasted the sting of loss. And we do so again with the passing of Sajan Krama Sumna. He was a great human, in both strength and wisdom. While he may have considered himself simple in some ways, in truth he was an excellent teacher. He taught us humility, courage and sacrifice. He taught us all that we are capable of amazing deeds. And he taught us all that we could overcome powerful evil. All this he taught us, not through these words that blow away upon the desert winds and are lost forever, but through his actions. Actions that have saved lives, that have founded towns and that have shaped our world for the better. While his life was all too brief, the legacy he leaves will long be remembered, by friend and foe alike. Rest easy, great human. You have earned it."
Nuveril's experience is the opposite of Zeladiel's. Throughout their climb back to the sunlit surface, she remains stubbornly determined in her thinking that Sarenrae will return Sajan to life; after all the time the sun goddess has turned a blind eye to her people's sufferings, after the group has cleansed her temple in Kelmarane and defeated the Carrion King and the followers of Rovagug on her behalf, she owes them this. When Linah conveys the message that the Vudrani has chosen not to return to the battle, her face darkens. The rest of the journey to Sajan's gravesite, she is more distant and snappish than normal, even for her.
She pays little attention to the words of the others, seemingly distracted by the distant sight of Kelmarane from the cairn. When attention turns to her, she touches two fingers to her head, then kneels to touch the ground. Resting her hand against one of the stones of Sajan's gravesite, she raises the two fingers to touch her chest. "He died a warrior," she says, almost grudgingly, in a low voice. "May his ancestors receive him as such."
Linah stands over Sajan's grave trying her best to keep her composure, and failing. The commune with the monk's spirit had done little to soothe the grief or still the guilt she felt for her fallen ally. She had tried the best she could to distract her mind with tending to the rescued slaves, but when she dug through her scroll case and found the Breath of life scroll in the bottom she broke. She would have been able to save Sajan, but she had failed.
"You where a great friend. I hope that you can find your peace. Your deeds will not be forgotten and i will not forget you", Linah manages before the tears well up.
You fill in the cairn, Linah again using a prayer to seal the grave with solid rock. Sajan's body will not be disturbed by scavengers at least.
One by one you make your way down to the camp. It will be evening shortly and another cold night ahead.
You will make it out of the mountains though. After the trials you've passed you know that much. The Carrion King is dead, the Carrion tribe broken. There will be no attack on Kelmarane, at least by the gnolls, not for years.
Yet enemies remain. For five thousand years gnolls have occupied these northern lands, far longer than the Keleshite settlers who have sought to displace them. It might take a 100,000 soldiers a lifetime to cleanse each and every mountain hole. And not every member of the Carrion pack was defeated in the Temple of the Beast.
The Scroll of Kakishon rests in Khalid's haversack. A heavy and mysterious burden. Surely the jann will not give up his hunt easily but why does he wish to possess the scroll so badly? Did Nuveril's sister hold it in her hands? To whom will it reveal its secrets?
And what will the group do now, its stated goals achieved? Common purpose and adversity held you together. Does enough remain to keep you on the same path?
Yes the night ahead will be a cold one.