Hunger in the Darkness - Expedition to the Mines of Zolurket (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

A desperate attempt to reclaim the ancestral Dwarvish mine of Tar-Urkatha from the darkness that has engulfed it....


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Goliath Druid 17 | AC 29 w/Barkskin (32 v. Giants w/Barkskin)/14/24 | HP 212/212 | CMD 28 (32 v. Bull rush or trip) | F+18, R+10, W+19, (+2 v. Spells, SLAs, and poison) (+4 to saves v. SLA and SU abilities of giant)| Perc25, Init+4 | Darkvision 60’

"Like you, I wish I knew exactly what had happened here, but it doesn't see, there are any other clues to be had.". Dolgrym will give a quick search with his Detect Magic active just to be sure there is nothing out of the ordinary they might have missed.


Minor Crab-beast

Dolgrym regards the chambers once more with a magically jaundiced eye, and is unable to find anything else. Rejoining Nabo outside, the young jackalwere is delighted to see you safely out of the cave and asks "Back-away to big mountain now?"


Goliath Druid 17 | AC 29 w/Barkskin (32 v. Giants w/Barkskin)/14/24 | HP 212/212 | CMD 28 (32 v. Bull rush or trip) | F+18, R+10, W+19, (+2 v. Spells, SLAs, and poison) (+4 to saves v. SLA and SU abilities of giant)| Perc25, Init+4 | Darkvision 60’

"That sounds like the most reasonable course of action to me, Nabo. Let's get out of this stinky place."


|| AC 20/T12/FF18 | HP 45/45 | F +6 R +4 W +8 | Init +5 | Perception +12 | Sense Motive +6 | Darkvision 90' || Dwarf (Deep Delver) Inquisitor 6

"Yes Nabo, we go back to the big mountain."

Padrym passes out prestidigitations until the party is somewhat less fragrant.


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

"Once we're settled I'll see to those profane items the gnolls were carrying. Also, would any of you mind carrying a hyena carcass for the lizards? I'd like to keep them placated for now while we figure out what to do with them."

Edited to add the lizard food request.


Minor Crab-beast

The party is able to return to their hollow at the foot of the mine without any issues, travelling through the day and arriving just as evening takes full hold. The firelight that you've come to expect playing out across the fortifications in the distance.

Night is long and dark, but morning does come - bringing you renewed vigor to face the day ahead.

Plans?


Goliath Druid 17 | AC 29 w/Barkskin (32 v. Giants w/Barkskin)/14/24 | HP 212/212 | CMD 28 (32 v. Bull rush or trip) | F+18, R+10, W+19, (+2 v. Spells, SLAs, and poison) (+4 to saves v. SLA and SU abilities of giant)| Perc25, Init+4 | Darkvision 60’

Dolgrym grabs one of the carcasses, wanting to be sure the lizards had food for the night.


Stats:
AC 20/10/20, HP 35/35, F+3 R+1 W+3, Init +0, Per -1

Feigr will also help drag a carcass back to the camp if two are needed.

Feigr stumbles out of his bedroll, stiff and red-eyed. He has a drink of whiskey trying to build up the energy for breakfast. "Well, I think we've exhausted the lands around the mountain unless someone can think of someplace we haven't looked that I'm forgetting. I guess it's time to see about the gnolls at the entrance. Wish I knew where those humans we've been seeing signs of were holed up. Maybe with the gnolls as you suggested before Love?"


Male Dwarf Trapsmith Rogue
Feigr Roarrgun wrote:
"... Maybe with the gnolls as you suggested before Love?"

"Likely." Love draws some smoke from his short clay pipe and exhales it towards the fortifications. "Unless they grey some good sense and buggered off." Love taps out the pipe into the sand and buries the ash. "But I don't think we'll be that lucky."

"So, fancy a look at what's left of your fortifications? I don't fancy a direct assault. Maybe we can sneak past themm into the mine. If it's as haundted as folks say we might be able to let our problems deal with each other."

Love readies gear for a walkabout and takes the lead looking for snares pits and deadfalls on the way to a good viewing point .


Minor Crab-beast

Reposted from before:

Looking from the mouth of the cave towards the mount you see that you have a couple of hours of tiring though not technically difficult ascent ahead of you. The ruined fortifications are more intact on the side that you are currently, though not by much. They are clustered in close by what you gauge must be the front door to the mines proper, and are not very extensive beyond that. Even from this distance you can pick out a few tents and lean-to's scattered around the walls of the fort itself.

There is a direct approach through light scrub and scree that will give you some protection by sight - but still likely make you visible from a reasonable distance. But you would be able to make your way upon the fort from any direction you deem reasonable.

On the Northern edge of the valley is a sparse collection of brush and trees that will break up your silhouettes until you get closer - but also means you will be coming at the fort from the most intact side.

It isn't really viable to come at the fort from behind as it is set into the mountain where the incline goes from being manageable to much steeper.

Love is scouting ahead, but do you come through the brush and trees, or directly?


Stats:
AC 20/10/20, HP 35/35, F+3 R+1 W+3, Init +0, Per -1

Are the tents on the ground level or up among the fortifications?


Minor Crab-beast

In and around the fortifications, which are built on the entrance to the mines.
It's fairly clear that something is living in the fortifications and you'll need to fight / talk / sneak your way through them to proceed.


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

"Do we want to try to take them by surprise, or have them 'notice' us and send out a hunting party? Give us the chance to weaken them before we commit to an attack?"


Stats:
AC 20/10/20, HP 35/35, F+3 R+1 W+3, Init +0, Per -1

Feigr grunts, "That sounds like a pretty good idea. Anything to weaken them before we make a more sizable attack."


Goliath Druid 17 | AC 29 w/Barkskin (32 v. Giants w/Barkskin)/14/24 | HP 212/212 | CMD 28 (32 v. Bull rush or trip) | F+18, R+10, W+19, (+2 v. Spells, SLAs, and poison) (+4 to saves v. SLA and SU abilities of giant)| Perc25, Init+4 | Darkvision 60’

"Let's try to lure whatever out and thin out the herd."


|| AC 20/T12/FF18 | HP 45/45 | F +6 R +4 W +8 | Init +5 | Perception +12 | Sense Motive +6 | Darkvision 90' || Dwarf (Deep Delver) Inquisitor 6

"I agree, but let us see what Love returns with before we make too many plans."


Minor Crab-beast

Love is able to range ahead of the party somewhat and get a reasonable idea based off of what is visible. The encamped group seems to be well bedded in, and has been there for some time. They don't seem to be giving too much credence to assault from without, but Love picks out a few watching posts for lookouts. The sprawl of tents and lean-tos makes him think that they number in the tens outside the mine... and cannot make out if their camp extends to within the halls as well...


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

Has anyone actually seen the happy campers around the fort? IIRC, they camp like gnolls, but I don't remember ever seeing anything but firelight at night.


Minor Crab-beast

No-one has really gotten close enough, but it's not giving anything away to say that yes, they are gnolls


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

Sorry, overthinking things :-). It's an occupational hazard from some games I've been in.


|| AC 20/T12/FF18 | HP 45/45 | F +6 R +4 W +8 | Init +5 | Perception +12 | Sense Motive +6 | Darkvision 90' || Dwarf (Deep Delver) Inquisitor 6

"Seems we're badly outnumbered, but I don't think these fights would go as easily as the last few. What's our plan for drawing them out? Ambush a few patrols? Much as I'd like to sneak past I don't relish the thought of having a camped enemy behind me and the unknown in front of me."


Stats:
AC 20/10/20, HP 35/35, F+3 R+1 W+3, Init +0, Per -1

"I would support either you plan or Cynara's Padrym. Yours may have the benefit of reducing the chance they would send a huge party out right away."


Male Human Paladin /4 ]Hps 36/36 AC 23 FF 21 T 11 CMD 18 Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +8 Init +1 Per +0

"I'd almost like to find a way to draw out a patrol or two and attacking the base then while they are out. However I am not coming up with a way to do that and keep whomever the patrol chases safe."


Goliath Druid 17 | AC 29 w/Barkskin (32 v. Giants w/Barkskin)/14/24 | HP 212/212 | CMD 28 (32 v. Bull rush or trip) | F+18, R+10, W+19, (+2 v. Spells, SLAs, and poison) (+4 to saves v. SLA and SU abilities of giant)| Perc25, Init+4 | Darkvision 60’

"I say we try to lure at least one more group away from the base camp. Eventually, they will wise up and that stratedy won't be effective, but I'd think we have one more chance to pull a cout patrol, before they all come looking for us."


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

"It doesn't help that gnolls are faster than our best fighters, and their hyenas are faster than any of us. We could set up a camp and try to pick off any patrols that happen across us, but we couldn't let any of them get away."

The elf stares off into the distance for a minute, thinking. "Could we fortify the hollow here so that we could hold off a large number of gnolls and sortie from it? Or set up our camp outside the valley entirely and try to conceal it?"


Minor Crab-beast

Options:
1. Sneak in close / through
2. Attempt to thin out the herd through either goading or trying to snag a patrol.
3. All out assault
4. Set-up the hollow as a defensive fort.
5. ?


Goliath Druid 17 | AC 29 w/Barkskin (32 v. Giants w/Barkskin)/14/24 | HP 212/212 | CMD 28 (32 v. Bull rush or trip) | F+18, R+10, W+19, (+2 v. Spells, SLAs, and poison) (+4 to saves v. SLA and SU abilities of giant)| Perc25, Init+4 | Darkvision 60’

i think I vote for number two.


Male Human Paladin /4 ]Hps 36/36 AC 23 FF 21 T 11 CMD 18 Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +8 Init +1 Per +0

Two works for me. I volunteer to be the bait


Minor Crab-beast

Two seems to have some traction - please describe either:
1. where you camp out attempting to snag a patrol
or
2. how you attempt to attract attention, and what / where the watchers are while that occurs.


|| AC 20/T12/FF18 | HP 45/45 | F +6 R +4 W +8 | Init +5 | Perception +12 | Sense Motive +6 | Darkvision 90' || Dwarf (Deep Delver) Inquisitor 6

"Alright, we want to snag a patrol, so we'll need to see where they patrol. Having a good overlook will be good for Love, he can snipe them. I think it's best if I'm the bait along with Khepri, I don't move fast enough to support him otherwise. One fine test will be to put some tracks across their patrol route and see what happens. If they don't even notice those then sneaking past them might be more viable."

Padrym tugs his beard thinking on it.

"Was there a good ambush spot around 300 feet or more from the encampments?"


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

"I'm not sure we--well, you--can tell from here. (I know I can't.) We've not gotten within two hours' walk of the camp, though I don't know how close Love got on his reconnaissance.

"If we want to draw them into an ambush, it sounds like we should move in from the north side, even though the fortifications on that side are in better shape. We're not planning to attack the camp there, after all. We get as close as we can without being seen, then Khepri and Padrym go on ahead until they're spotted. There's this: even if this trick works and we wipe out their sortie, it probably won't work again. We need to be ready to press the attack as soon as the following party has been defeated." The elf smothers a small laugh. "I'm sorry, this reminded me of an old story about--about an orc attack against, hm, Janderhoff." She relates the tale, finishing up with, "...came staggering down from the mountain, bleeding from a half-dozen axe wounds. 'Flee, Grishnakh! It trap! There are two of them!'

"I doubt we'll be that lucky."


Male Dwarf Trapsmith Rogue

"Getting paste the Gnolls isn't impossible, but those dammed cats will smell us. Especially once we are in the mine."

Love looks at the group

"Frankly this looks like a loss. There are too many to sneak past and far too many to fight. We might catch one patrol but the next one will be too big for us. We need to find a way to cheat..."

Voice, Some questions for you. 1.Is there any sign of fortifications directed against an attack from within the mine?
2.Does the mountain overhang the entrance at all? Does it look viable to drop rocks onto the Gnoll camp from above?
3. Where are the Gnolls getting water from? Can I see their food storage area?
4. Was I able to identify a command/shaman/other big nob tent?


Minor Crab-beast

Answering Love's questions:
1. The camp extends into the mine itself, so you couldn't really get a good look at the other side. But you strongly suspect so given the relative lack of defenses looking out.
2. Not really, you'd have to get fairly exposed to get up above them on the mountain slope due to a relative lack of undergrowth and the steepness of the climb.
3. You couldn't really tell as I kept you at a safe (ie. could not get discovered distance)
4. Nothing notable outwith the mine... perhaps within.

Throwing up an option unthought - fortify a defense point for now. And then when the caravan arrives take the other dwarves in with you? - pretty much all of the dwarves on the convoy can hold a blade well enough; Sangvit and Gaelthrin especially.


Minor Crab-beast

*tumbleweed* ;)


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

"The way that the caravan will be coming from--did any of you see sign of gnolls that way?"


Minor Crab-beast

The caravan is coming from the South (near to where the copse of forest is); and there were no real signs of recent gnoll activity there (nor any activity - the trail is still o'ergrown).


Goliath Druid 17 | AC 29 w/Barkskin (32 v. Giants w/Barkskin)/14/24 | HP 212/212 | CMD 28 (32 v. Bull rush or trip) | F+18, R+10, W+19, (+2 v. Spells, SLAs, and poison) (+4 to saves v. SLA and SU abilities of giant)| Perc25, Init+4 | Darkvision 60’

We could always find a defensible position for a short time until a patrol or two head out in our direction, then lure them in. It might be a couple days, but I'd assume they have regular scouts.


Stats:
AC 20/10/20, HP 35/35, F+3 R+1 W+3, Init +0, Per -1

"I say we show out ugly mugs and then try to lure them out to ambush a patrol. After that we use the woods as cover to hide from their next sortie. If that is small enough, we ambush it too. If they enter the woods, we play cat and mouse with them or simply hide if the force is too large. I'd also be up for seeing if we could use the old giant cave to set up a trap."


|| AC 20/T12/FF18 | HP 45/45 | F +6 R +4 W +8 | Init +5 | Perception +12 | Sense Motive +6 | Darkvision 90' || Dwarf (Deep Delver) Inquisitor 6

"I like Feigr's plan. We can also start to clear the trail for the caravan as well. Either way we can't take on that camp single handed."


Male Human Paladin /4 ]Hps 36/36 AC 23 FF 21 T 11 CMD 18 Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +8 Init +1 Per +0

If we lure out some and take them out, maybe everyone but me can try and appear as gnolls and see if we can gain entrance. I'd be 'prisoner' of course, the old wookie trick?


Minor Crab-beast

Khepri - I don't think anyone actually has disguise self on their spell list, so it would be a strange set of 'gnolls' ;)
Unless told otherwise, I've left Nabo out of sight in the hollow with the camel and lizards.

The group moves unseen into the sparse trees on the Northern edge of the valley and gets as close as they dare to while maintaining a safe cover. Watching the fortifications, you see that there are a few defensive posts set with lookouts into the valley.

Wait for someone to come out, or provoke response? - if provoke, please describe the manner in which you do.


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

"It occurs to me that deliberately provoking the gnolls at this point may be unwise. We were charged by the Stonebrow, as I recall, with one main task: to scout an easily-defended place where the convoy can unload and camp. While the fortifications assuredly qualify, if we try to clear out the gnoll camp and fail, we'll have failed the Stonebrow and the caravan as well.

"Now, the hollow we've been using is easily defended, but I don't think it's secluded enough for their purposes--for the convoy to use it they would have to cross the valley. While we've avoided being spotted thus far, ten creatures (including the camels) are far easier to miss than a wagon train.

"Instead, I think measured steps are called for. We've already started to scout the caravan's route of approach. Let's set up a camp there, fortify it, and then once we've accomplished what we were sent to do we can try to draw the gnolls out from one of their forward defensive posts."


Male Dwarf Trapsmith Rogue

"The elf is speaking sense. We are looking at a minimum of thirty fighting gnolls plus the cats, plus whatever is inside the mine. If they want to they will wipe us out. No contest.
Mind you they would take losses maybe enough to make the next clan over get hungry eyes but that would be too late for us.
Cynara's plan to find a good spot for the caravan to hole up has merit. Mind you I have doubts about how much effect even ten more fighting Dwarves will have but maybe they have some resources we don't know about."

"So time to start scouting the caravan's road?"


|| AC 20/T12/FF18 | HP 45/45 | F +6 R +4 W +8 | Init +5 | Perception +12 | Sense Motive +6 | Darkvision 90' || Dwarf (Deep Delver) Inquisitor 6

"That makes good sense, we'll do no good dead."

Female voice: No, we must fight!
No, we must live to fight.

"I have to ask Love, why do you keep calling them cats?"


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

Just a note--according to the initial description of the caravan, there are thirty armed dwarves in it, not ten.


Male Dwarf Trapsmith Rogue

"Two reasons, the second more important than the first.
First, they are cats so its accurate. Secondly though giving an enemy a derrogatory nickname reduces the fear and mental threat posed by that enemy allowing you to see their actual strengths and weaknesses more clearly."


Male Dwarf Trapsmith Rogue
Cynara wrote:
Just a note--according to the initial description of the caravan, there are thirty armed dwarves in it, not ten.

Ok that will make a difference. It will be a bloody fight if it comes to a stand up brawl but our chances are closer to even .


Female Elf Oracle (Life)/7 Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/1 HP 55/65 AC 20/T 14/FF 18 Init +3 Perc +14 Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +7/+9 vs. ench. effects

Errr, not exactly, unless you also consider mongoose to be cats. They're closer to cats than dogs, though.


Male Dwarf Trapsmith Rogue
Cynara wrote:
Errr, not exactly, unless you also consider mongoose to be cats. They're closer to cats than dogs, though.

True, close enough to use the name though. Especially considering that "dog" as a nickname is taken by the gnolls themselves.


Male Human Paladin /4 ]Hps 36/36 AC 23 FF 21 T 11 CMD 18 Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +8 Init +1 Per +0

Maybe only ten are going to live by the time they get here? Either way lets find a place to fortify and wait for the caravan and get extra help

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