Another hour passes by, the sun starts to sink into the horizon as the late afternoon cools down. The sounds of barking reach your ears, and as you climb the next dune, you see a small scouting party of gnolls and hyenas.
Round One
The pack moves forward, two hyenas try to surround Jen while the gnolls advance and ready their spears.
Normal Damage and 2d6 Bleed. Target cannot talk or breathe while bleeding.
The first hyena lunges at Jen and tears a chunk from his throat, but the other hyena nips and misses.
Round 2
Ray'lyn's magic courses through Jen's body as his throat closes. Two hyenas lie dead with the third wounded by Boiid's mace of a tail.
Rushing forward, two gnolls surround Arture while a third swings wide to attack Boiid with the hyena. A fierce looking gnoll wielding a flail hangs back and barks orders at his lackeys.
The hyena lunges forward, but its teeth meet only the hard armored plates of the dinosaur's hide.
Losing its footing in the sand the gnoll's spear completely misses Arture.
Taking a moment to mock its friend, the second gnoll's attack is easily evaded as well.
The gnoll assisting the hyena drives a powerful strike to the squat dinosaur, but the spear harmlessly glances off Boiid's back.
The slave women huddle in fear, afraid to move, afraid to run.
Round 3
Lia's bolt sinks into the Packmaster's shoulder, howling in pain in barks out.
Running around Arture and the gnolls he is engaged with, the Packmaster moves right next to Lia
The gnoll beside Arture and in front of Ray'lyn succumbs to a fiery explosion as it is lanced with a trident, and the bomb's splash singes the fur of its comrade .
Boiid thumps the gnoll he is squaring off with
The gnoll reeks of burning hair as it does its best to stab Arture with its spear.
Once more the gnoll tries to stab Boiid,
and once more the spear skirts off his plates.
Entering Round 4
Jen misses with his falchion, but the gnoll becomes easier to hit now that it is boxed in.
Ray'lyn's first arrow misses the Packmaster, but the second one drives home.
Arture's bomb leaves gnoll bits scattered about the desert floor.
Seeing its pack decimated, the gnoll facing off with Boiid turns and flees.
Snarling, the Packmaster brings his heavy flail down upon Lia.
Round 5
Lia's shot buries into the Packmaster, who is then peppered by two more shots by Ray'lyn. Boiid clips his foe with his heavy tail.
Blood weeps from the bolt and arrow wounds in the Packmaster, but he remains standing, a fierce hate burning in his eyes.
The Packmaster howls in agony as his body is engulfed in flame. Momentarily, the gnoll is paralyzed with pain before the bomb consumes him. A smoking black furry lump rests in the sand.
The remaining gnoll flees for its life across the dunes, running as fast as its legs will take it.
The slave girls huddle together in fear, but relieved to be alive thanks to the party's efforts.
- Masterwork Heavy Flail
- 686 gp
- 4 spears
I borrow Jin's falchion once more and behead each body in turn to ensure they cannot rise again as undead or atleast do so at great cost. Whistling to Boiid, I call him near to look him over and make sure he isn't wounded.
"Everyone come close so I can tend to your wounds."
"We should hurry on towards the bazaar before more of those mongrel pups arrive."
Just as the sun slips below the horizon, you reach the walls of Pharaoh's Reach. The guards hurry you inside before shutting the heavy gate doors.
Although the day is drawing to a close, the town is by no means ready to slumber. Lanterns are being lit as patrons and customers still hustle and bustle through the bazaar.
A few red lanterns are also being lit by the tavern and brothel.
Merchants ply their wares, quieter than during the day, but just as fervently.
I make my way through the bustling crowd back to the owner of the slave women, keeping Boiid close to my side to avoid him getting lost in the throngs of people and also to aid my own movement through the city as people quickly move aside to make way for the lumbering dinosaur.
Walking up to the slave owner I guide the girls back into their proper holding cells.
"We managed to save all but one. Unfortunately, we didn't reach her in time to stop her from being transformed into a monstrosity but we were able to ensure that her death was quick and as painless as possible. I believe you agreed to compensate us with 150 pieces of gold per slave returned alive."