Revery covers his eyes and tries to protect them from the spell directed at him.
Fort save:
He shakes his head and says, "[b]I can't see![b]"
Not wanting to throw a javelin into one of his friends' backs, he stands and waits for the effect to end.
Revery realizes he is a target standing there blind, so he goes down on one knee and moves to the side. Holding the light he can obviously be located, but he hopes he is a harder target if he is smaller.
Sajeek misses, as do all of Bast's strikes save one claw, and that claw is perfectly guided (critical threat), but fails to dig in as deep as initially expected (not confirmed).
Critical Confirmation (Bast): (not confirmed)
Revery blindly (2 round duration for flash of light) backs away hoping that his friends would not fall while their magical support stood by waiting for his turn to be put down like a rabid muscrat.
It takes the larger of the gnolls a second to catch its breath (46 damage taken). The shaman (14 damage taken) looks much more frisky. There is a momentary glance towards the possible safety of the tunnel.
(end of round)
(start of new round)
Each gnoll seeks out a target of opportunity separate from one another, and smile maliciously when feel their weapons draw blood.
Random (by alpha - Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Nogglegrop, Sajeek): (Gwendalyn)
Gnoll 1 (Gwendalyn):
Damage:
Gnoll 1 (Gwendalyn):
Damage:
Random (by alpha - Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Nogglegrop, Sajeek): (Bast)
Perhaps it says something that the shaman stops casting spells, and instead wades into combat like a common thug.
Dogs hate cats.
Gnoll 3 (Bast):
Damage:
Both Gwendalyn and Bast spring crimson leaks.
(tag PCs)
Revery listens carefully to the combat. He considers using others' eyes to see, but feels it is not that important, and his strength may be needed for other things. He notes he does not hear the shaman cast a spell, so either it cast one quietly, or not at all.
He remains down on one knee and against the wall of the passage.
(blindness: 1 round remaining;
Shallow Breath (Gnoll 1): 6 rounds remaining;
HP: 30/35, Mana: 25/90)
Nogglegrop circles, using the threat of Gwendalyn's next attack (flanking) to momentarily distract the shaman, and lashes out with his tiny mace. The blow is nearly as hard as he can swing the thing, and an explosion of pain is felt by the dog-faced cannibal.
Tiny Mace:
Damage:
They can't understand him, but that doesn't stop him from beaking off. "Have at thee you hind-licking waste of fur! Teach you to steal little girls and rip out hearts!"
A lot of blood was flowing, and the gnome wished to help everyone, but his eyes continue to watch the poison course through Kwen's veins. The rogue was getting sicker, and would need his divine magics sooner rather than later (6/50 mana).
Snarling, Sajeek's claws dig into the wooden haft of his spear. The vah shir stabs the the gnoll that he and Bast had been attacking. The Beastlord was going to pin the dog-face to the wall for hurting Bast.
Feeling the pain of the metal tooth that slashed his hide, Bast growls deep in his throat. With a roar, the tiger bright fangs seek gnoll-flesh.
His emerald gaze catching sight of the two slaves, Sajeek's fury ignites anew.
Kwen grips his scimitar, feeling it slip slightly from the poison coursing through his veins, his skin taking on a slight greenish tinge. Stalking the Gnoll shaman, he steps up behind it and swings the blade at the gnoll shaman's neck.
to hit
damage with backstab
Gwendalyn cries out as the larger gnoll hits her twice, hard. She can't take much more of that; but the gnolls are so hard to injure through their armor that she focuses on her fellow shaman anyway. It's being distracted by Nogglegrop (and his cute little mace) exactly opposite her; and besides, they can't afford for it to prolong the battle with more healing. Gripping her two-handed hammer hard with desperation, she swings a furious blow at the gnoll spellcaster.
Damage:
1/50 mana, 26/45 hp
Active Buffs
Inner Fire (+1 insight AC & +3 buff hp) on Kwen and Sajeek for 50 minutes from when they went down the pit
Kwen finds that his blade only catches air, which is too bad since he had a really sweet spot lined up just a split second before.
Gwendalyn catches her fellow shaman dead centre in the middle of its breastplate, causing the creature to take a deep breath and reconsider what side it should fight on.
Sajeek feels his spear slip from his grip (critical failure) and go clattering along the floor.
Bast rips the gnoll from stem to stern (67 damage taken).
Though both gnolls are standing only nothing more than grit and determination, they are still dangerous.
(end of round)
(start of new round)
Random (by alpha - Bast, Kwen, Sajeek): (Bast)
Bast is quick enough to dodge out of the way of one strike, but the second is far too accurate, (critical threat) luckily the kejek tiger rolls away before the sword digs in too deeply.
Gnoll 1 (Bast): (critical threat)
Gnoll 1 (Bast, critical confirmation): (not successful)
Damage:
Gnoll 1 (Bast):
Damage:
Random (by alpha - Gwendalyn, Nogglegrop): (Nogglegrop)
The second gnoll watches its weapon skid along the floor (critical failure) chasing after Sajeek's spear.
Gnoll 3 (Nogglegrop):
Damage:
The shaman (32 damage taken) moves towards its dropped weapon (incurs an AoO from everyone but Revery).
(tag PCs)
Revery's sight returns.
Nogglegrop falls too deeply into the battle lust, calling for his god's assistance (yaulp, 5/50 mana) and screaming in the face of the disarmed shaman. His mace launches with pinpoint accuracy.
Tiny Mace:
Damage:
Tiny Mace (AoO):
Damage (AoO):
As the unarmed gnoll moves recklessly, Gwendalyn spies the opening that she'd been waiting for and swings her hammer low, trying to sweep it off its feet (and not in a good way). She fails miserably.
Strength check:
Both Sajeek and Bast take a swipe at the gnoll as he grabs for his weapon. Striking with claw and fang the move in sync as if they had been fighting together for years. Although, a few air sizzling curses had flown from Sajeek's muzzle after he had dropped his spear.
Having the chance to get a free shot in at the gnoll, Sajeek and Bast get ready to launch another wave of attacks.
The vah shir flexes his clawed hands and tears into the gnoll once more. Sajeek attacks high and from the right, hoping to force the dog-face into Bast's fangs and claws.
Bast muscles tense just before the big reddish-orange tiger attacks the stinky two legged dog. Even if it had been pitch clack the tiger wouldn't have really needed light. The reeked from the gnoll cut the stench of blood and rot that was coming from his own fur.
Revery's eyes begin clearing, and the bright light from the will-o-wisp husk he is holding gradually comes into focus. Despite the lack of sight, he has been listening to the battle, and it seems even more chaotic when he can't see what's going on. It all happens so fast. In the space of a dozen heartbeats blows were exchanged, spells were cast, and Revery's sight was lost and now is found.
Looking up now, he sees a gnoll trying to recover its weapon, and everyone seemingly attacking everyone. He stands up, and pulls out one of his javelins, and throws it at the shaman.
Attack:
Damage:
(Shallow Breath (Gnoll 1): 5 rounds remaining;
HP: 30/35, Mana: 25/90)
Although frustrated by the gnoll shaman's armor, Gwendalyn just keeps hammering away at it. She doesn't know what else to do. If she still had the spiked chain then she might try to trip it, but it just seems too dangerous with a rigid weapon where she could as easily be the one knocked off balance.
Damage:
Kwen takes another harsh breath and swings at the Gnoll Shaman again hoping that this time it would go down and stay down.
damage with backstab
Kwen spins around using the momentium from the first attack to bring another deadly scimitar blow to the gnoll shaman, looking at the other gnoll promising with his eyes to slay that one too.
damage with backstab
Kwen's arcing scimitar, Nogglegrop's tiny mace, Bast's razor-sharp fangs and Sajeek's pounding fist all make short work of the gnoll shaman. Its torn and twisted body falls lifelessly to the cavern floor, exhaling a single gurgling breath.
You have gathered up the larger gnoll's attention, though it still has a great deal of fight left in it.
The two slave women watch the fall of the gnoll with fear in their eyes. Hope is a dangerous commodity in such a place. In a confusing moment they stand and start running up the north tunnel as fast as their picks and chains will let them.
Your attacks strike from left and right, leaving rivulets of blood to slowly work their way down the gnoll's body. It drops to its knees, blinking stupidly for a moment, and then simply slinks into a sleep too deep for it to ever wake again.
(end of combat)
6 additional javelins have been recovered, and those that were wielded by the larger gnoll are properly balanced, while the other 10 are garbage (-1 to strike). The shaman has a poorly crafted breastplate (-1 to AC), a wooden shield, and a rusted long sword (-1 to strike). The gnoll carries a number of bones and assorted disgusting accoutrements of its journeys. The larger gnoll carries an impressive breastplate and longsword (both masterwork), and a metal shield. Between both gnolls you come away for 34 gold and 9 silver.
The larger gnoll has a key, which looks like it will easily fit the slave's shackles, but not the bed's lock.
Kwen sticks his scimitar blade into the ground, using it to hold himself up, the half elven rogue is turning a lovely shade of green, his limbs are quaking and his veins feel like they are on fire. If Kwen had anything left in his stomach you are sure he would be spewing it's contents all over the ground.
" Feel... sick... some... kind...of....poison...not...known..." The rogue wheezes out, sliding down to the ground, he gives a slight smile and says "That...was...fun...let's..do..that....again." barely able to get the words out, as his teeth are clenched together.
" I'll look at the lock in a minute, once I've caught me breath, thanks Noggy. Hell's teeth, thanks everyone for checking up on me."
You notice something interesting about the gnoll's sheaths. They have a grease-consistency substance on the outer side (poison for one more application each).
Heavy eyelids fight to draw the yawning gnome into a deep slumber. Nogglegrop launches his last spell at Kwen before the poison full takes hold (36/48 hit points, 0/50 mana).
Light Healing (Kwen):
Moments later the rogue doubles over (15 poison damage taken).
The two slaves have gotten away, unless you are willing to race up the corridors blindly. You feel abandoned, and perhaps not as appreciated as one might imagine, until a voice echoes back, "Follow, quickly now." The voice has a thick accent to it.
Continuing up the corridor brings you under the area that Kwen thought to be trapped, but you discern that it has been left that way since there is a tunnel overhead and the diggers did not wish to accidentally undermine the integrity of the floor.
40' of a light ascent brings you to a climb 17' into another room. The ascent is via a steep ramp, and though it is not an easy climb you make it without trouble. There are two exits from the room, northeast and northwest. The women lead you to the northwest, and you continue to a T intersection where you take the right passageway and travel another 30' or so.
The child's cry is the your left (west), but the women point to the right, where you see a shaft of light in the distance bright enough to suggest a way to the surface. "You must go now, or our children will be harmed."
West of your current position the corridor ramps down to the floor, which reveals a 50' high cavern that runs far out of sight. You smell death to the west of you as well.
(please update hit points and mana in your next post)
"Gak!" The rogue spits out, " watch out for those sheaths, you could poison your selves with them." The Rogue says. Sheathing his scimitar, his looks over at the lock on the bed, taking time to study the lock " Do we want to try and find the two women, or let them come back to us, I mean this could be a very large cave. None of us are in any shape to for another round. At least right now, that is."
34
No bed is near your current position, but the shape of the gnoll's key does not look like it would fit in the lock that Kwen had seen before.
Whether the party had followed fast, or taken their time, the women had asked you to leave the system of caves.
There is a short argument between the women, and the more adamant one finally relents, agreeing that you have earned an opportunity to rest and regain your strength before you depart.
You are lead to the area where the rocks are piled before they are hauled to the surface, it is perhaps 20' east from your current location, near the chimney that provided the light. It takes a long time to clear out a hollow in the back of the pile, but eventually you have a sufficient hide to regain your strength. The women depart, and you are left to an exhausted rest.
Each hour the others regain a portion of their strength:
- Sajeek (4 mana per hour of rest)
- Revery (18 mana per hour of rest)
- Gwendalyn (11 mana per hour of rest)
- Nogglegrop (14 mana regained).
Many more hours will be required for the group to be at full capacity.
The gnome is more worried about the health of the party than maintaining a reserve (28 mana expended after 2 hour point).
Light Healing (Kwen):
Light Healing (Sajeek):
Light Healing (Gwendalyn):
Light Healing (Bast):
Minor Healing (Sajeek):
Minor Healing (Gwendalyn):
Minor Healing (Revery):
Minor Healing (Nogglegrop):
Minor Healing (Bast):
Nogglegrop looks happier, but still exhausted (42/48 hit points, 1/60 mana). He will require at least 4 more hours to find his full strength. Beyond casting spells the gnome had remained silent, for he did not wish a gnoll to overhear his words, "Gwendalyn, if you could take away the remaining injuries it would be greatly appreciated."
By the 7 hour mark, with only slaves coming to drop stones on the other side of the barrier that hides you, it is a different group behind the hide.
(ensure updated mana and hit points includes meditation time and healing spells cast)
(ding level 6 for Kwen, Nogglegrop, and Revery)
You hear the sound of many picks to the west, and the sound of voices as well.
The two women look fearful of the noises and beg you to remove them before they get the slaves in trouble, and give the "master" a reason to hurt their babies more than they have already.
Over the course of the 7 hours, Gwendalyn finishes healing up the others between meditations. At the end, she even manages to find the mana to cast a small buff on everyone but Nogglegrop, who was the only one with good armor.
Light Healing (Bast):
Light Healing (Kwen):
Minor Healing (Nogglegrop):
Minor Healing (Revery):
Minor Healing (Sajeek):
Minor Healing (Sajeek):
50/50 mana, 48/48 hp
Active Buffs
Inner Fire (+1 insight AC and +3 buff hp) for 50 minutes on Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Revery, and Sajeek
Revery is concerned for the little girls, and for the slaves too. But he follows the advice of them - they know these caves, and their captors, and the group of accidental visitors do not. At one point he whispers to the others, "What about the girl? And the slaves?"
He meditates, and all of his magical energies return after several hours. He nods thanks to Noddy and Gwen for their healing. He summons his pet during this time, and meditates more to regain his mana. The will-o-wisp husk is hidden in his sack during this time.
He wonders what they are digging for; whether it is a mine, and they are trying to uncover gold or platinum, or if it is a complex being expanded and they are tunneling. He will have to ask one of the slaves.
(full mana and hit points)
Biting her lip, Gwendalyn realizes that since even Noggy got hit by the gnolls, he could use some help too. A little bit of mana now could save more spent healing later. She casts Inner Fire on the plucky gnome.
48/50 mana, 48/48 hp
Active Buffs
Talisman of the Beast (+3 buff Str) indefinitely on Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Nogglegrop, Revery, and Sajeek
Inner Fire (+1 insight AC and +3 buff hp) for 50 minutes on Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Nogglegrop, Revery, and Sajeek
Kwen straps the long sword and it's sheath to his belt and sets up about poisoning the arrows in his quiver and his blades, making sure to not nick himself with the desert poison.
After that time is spent setting up his trade, he tries to sooth the slave woman that is upset, about the party and seeing if she knew who the 'master' was, and why he was doing what he was doing.
trade skill poison arrows (success)
trade skill poison kurki (success)
trade skill poison scimitar (success}
diplomacy
gather information
retcon
Gwendalyn reminds the others to consider what they know. "We're not out of these mines yet. It isn't enough to just be healthy. If you have a spell to armor yourself quickly, keep it ready. If you have a spell to conjure an ally or strengthen it, then cast it." The young mystic settles into meditation for almost two hours, gathering strength from the spirit world, before finishing healing the others.
She also coordinates with the priest of Bristlebane, making sure that he knows that she can cure disease but not poison, before collapsing into slumber from exhausting her pool of magical energy so completely.
50/50 mana, 45/45 hp
Active Buffs
Talisman of the Beast (+3 buff Str) indefinitely on Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Nogglegrop, Revery, and Sajeek
Following the others, Sajeek checks over Bast's wounds, Expending the last of his magics to heal the tiger. Too tired to care if they were going into a trap, the vah shir curls up next to Bast and falls asleep.
Waking up a couple of hours later, the Beastlord readies a spell to call spirits to aid Bast. Now that Bast was properly enhanced, Sajeek leans against the wall meditating to regain his magical strength.
Revery's question is answered, "We dig to uncover the ancient ruins that lies beneath the ground. It is a complex hidden for ages, and is reputed to hold the secrets to immortality."
Gophers standing in eagle territory are not as skittish as these two women appear to be. These are young women that breathe air made foul by the putrescence of their husbands, brothers and fathers rotting not far away. "We 17 remaining are all but simple travellers, farmers and gypsies that were taken from our beds, or tricked to help a stranger in distress." There is bitterness in the exhausted slave's voice. "The 'master' has slaughtered all of the men, enslaved the women, and uses our 22 children as leverage against us. A small den of 8 gnolls are paid with all the gemstones that are found, to watch over us as cruel slavers, for the 'master' cares not for wealth. He is too strong, you cannot defeat him, and will join the piles of dead if you try. We will understand if you run..."
You hear one of the children screaming as if tortured. The master is at "play" far from your position, west and south. The women's eyes harden, and silently beg you to help.
Swenj is the "master", and may not be human, or simply is a brilliant manipulator that is devoid of morality. Considering how you saw him in peasant's garb, the comment on him not caring about wealth appears to be an understatement.
Nogglegrop had collected the key to the shackles, and hands it to the closest of the women.
80' west of your current position you find another pile of heartless corpses. They are bathed in sunlight, as the noonday sun beats down upon them from a 15' wide hole to the surface, which lies over 90' above your heads, and 40' of ground above the high ceiling of the cavern you are in.
A noise is heard, as more talking can be heard further west from your current position, glancing around the tall rocks southwest of your position you see a motley mix of evil races about 27' away.
Nogglegrop gasps, for he recognizes his tormentors from the boat.
Both sides have seen each other (no surprise round).
Initiative:
- Cakkarak, Loki/Pet, Kur'plugh, Piter, Zaruksis
- Sajeek/Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Revery/Pet, Nogglegrop
(please wait for the evil group to catch up to this position, then post your actions for the battle in Diablerie)
Kwen rolls out of the fire, not wanting to take any possible damage.
Evasion success no damage
Brushing off a few embers from his clothes, Kwen hears the dark elf's words, wanting to fight more wouldn't do anyone any good he says " We will need the time to locate all of the slaves, including the children, if you are giving your word. By the way there are I'm sure a few gnolls running around here, they enjoy poison usage." He sheaths his new long sword, but the Kurki remains at his side. Trust is a two way street and while the rogue isn't hostile towards the evil group.... at the moment, it looks like the half-elf is extending some trust in one hand, the other is ready for the possibility of betrayal.
Kwen knows that his friends are not in the best shape for another battle today and he is worried about what the other's went through on the ship. Trying to make things less prone for violence for the day he leaves his tone pleasant, " I'm sure we all not to keen on working together but, stranger things have happened today. We shall see what the others have to say sir, about the terms, Wearer of the robes, that you have placed." While there is some sarcasm in his words, there is a measure of respect. The half elf might not like you, it seems that he is quite capable of working with unsavory types.
As they continue to explore the miserable mine, the sometime heroes stumble upon the last thing they expect: some of the torturers that had been employed to keep them in line, back when most (except Kwen) had been slaves. Cakkarak, Kur'Plugh, Loki, Piter, and Zaruksis. The names and faces had been burned into their memories by pain -- and apparently the fiends did not expect forgiveness.
Loki, a dark elf in dark robes, almost immediately casts a spell to poison Revery. Piter, a blonde human in a chain shirt, tries to shoot an arrow at Gwendalyn, and is lucky not to shoot himself in the foot; but Zaruksis, a squat iksar in a chain shirt, is as accurate as Piter is not, and nearly puts an arrow through the Northwoman's heart.
Making such a fantastic shot was the last mistake that Zaru ever made.
Revery's pet careens across the battlefield toward Loki, and Piter redeems his worth by reducing the animated suit of metal into so much rubble with a single blow of his bastard sword. Kur'Plugh, an ogre with a polar bear cloak, attempts to hit Kwen with a Frost Rift spell, but the wily half elf dodges the deadly cold entirely. The tall, dark, unarmored iksar known as Cakkarak hangs back in a defensive posture; this can be counted as wisdom, considering what happens next.
Nogglegrop heals most of Gwendalyn's wound, and she finishes the job. Sajeek throws a spear that hits a rock, but then moves in tandem with Kwen to distract Zaruksis, so that the devious rogue can hit the scaled fighter with a poisoned longsword. Bast bites Zaru, and an irate Gwen moves in from the other side to land such a heavy blow with her two-handed hammer that it knocks the iksar out.
The screaming of a tortured child has stopped, and footsteps approach from the south.
Revery shields himself and retaliates for the loss of his pet by making Piter flee in magically-induced fear; but Loki responds by adding disease to the enchanter's ailments and poisoning Nogglegrop too. Single-minded in his target, Ker'Plugh tries swinging his ogre-sized greatclub at Kwen, but the agile half elf dodges the massive cudgel as easily as the icy spell. Then their day gets bad.
Swenj shows up in a display of power that belies his peasant garb. With a flick of his wrist, the team's well-coordinated attack on the iksar archer turns into a deathtrap, as fire rains down in waves; then the mass murderer casts another spell to freeze Cakkarak, Loki, and the necromancer's pet skeleton. The one saving grace is that Zaruksis is unable to dodge the fire (being unconscious), and so his spark of self-serving evil is extinguished from the face of Norrath.
Slightly frostbitten, Loki siphons away some of Swenj's lifeforce, while his pet swings ineffectually at the apparent human. Kwen sinks another poisoned blade -- how many does he have? -- into the cruel wizard, while Piter bravely runs away. Brontide sticks with what works and casts Fear at Swenj along with his old standby, Shallow Breath, but neither sticks to the powerful foe. Gwendalyn heals Kwen, strengthens Bast, and hits Swenj with her hammer, while her evil counterpart Kur'Plugh hits him too.
Cakkarak, Sajeek, and Bast all tear into the wizard, while Nogglegrop heals Revery and joins nearly everyone else in what would seem to be the safest place: right next to the guy casting area-of-effect spells. But no, Swenj summons a Frost Spiral of Al'Kabor on himself and everyone around (with such force that it knocks Gwendalyn down), then flings a Shock of Lightning at Loki (who somehow manages to get barely singed).
Throughout this, the two female slaves are taking the shackle key that Nogglegrop gave them and going down into the mines.
Seeing what Swenj almost did to Loki, Revery tries blinding him with an Eye of Confusion spell, followed by another attempt at suffocation -- again to no effect. Kwen dodges the frost and the wizard dodges his blade; but Kur'Plugh lands a powerful blow, while the gnome cleric (that he used to threaten to eat) is busy backing up and healing himself. Loki once again takes some of Swenj's life essence for himself, while his little skeleton continues to be good for nothing but a distraction.
Gwendalyn heals herself and tries to blind Swenj with her own old standby, Flash of Light, but he slams into her and the incipient magics dissipate with a useless pop. She stands up while he drops two bloody sacks. Cakkarak appears to heal himself by sheer force of will, accelerating his reptilian body's natural regeneration to an astonishing extent, but he can't land a blow. Sajeek and Bast both tear at the wizard with their claws, yet he brings another spell down on everyone in the vicinity -- this time another Firestorm, just like the one reducing Zaruksis's smoldering corpse into crispy char.
Amazingly, despite everything, Swenj still stands; he might stagger under a blow, but then he also laughs. No mere mortal could take such a beating, and the inhuman monster (for such he must be) casts another lightning spell -- this time at Revery, who takes it full on. As scorched now as he was frosty just a moment ago, Nogglegrop withdraws further and heals Gwendalyn a little, since she's been hit pretty hard by those spells too.
Loki attempts a Clinging Darkness spell to small effect; though his magic finds little purchase, his words fare better, as Cakkarak (who doesn't particularly like him) and Sajeek (who is his enemy) both heed his bidding to save the bloody sacks. However, it is Piter who inadvertently shows the most devotion to the cause; having finally returned after recovering from Revery's spell, he trips over the sacks, accidentally protecting them with his body.
Others strike at Swenj, with varying degrees of success: Bast misses completely (but without falling on his snout), while Kwen hits with deadly precision. Though the ogre and barbarian shamans are completely different from each other in many other ways, they both back out of the rain of fire and heal themselves first; it's only practical, since you can't help anyone if you're dead.
Still laughing eerily, Swenj swings sluggishly at Gwendalyn when she backs off, and Bast easily evades his next blow. The next wave of the Firestorm falls on those still caught within its confines, including its own summoner; and he falls to his knees, expressing a sibilant prayer in Shissar with his dying breath. Whatever foul magics had powered and protected the unnatural wizard, they were finally exhausted, and he collapses in a lifeless heap.
Presumably freed by the first two slaves, other emaciated women flow out of the mines, looking for the children that Swenj had been keeping as leverage against them. There is also the not insignificant matter of the screams that had immediately preceded the fiend's interruption of their battle; if there was any chance that the child could still be alive, they needed to reach it before it bled out. Then there is a simple matter of brutal math: 17 women, 22 children (possibly minus 1)... and 8 gnolls minus 3 equals 5.
Loki makes them an offer: to leave his group the caves and its contents, in exchange for the slaves and his dead companion's possessions (what had survived the flames). Whatever they decide, they had best do it quickly.
Nogglegrop's teeth sound like they are fit to explode, as he grinds them along one another, galled that he cannot send them back to the foul pits from whence spawned from. They had all suffered at the hands of these slavers, subjected to every whim their tormented minds might fashion to stave off boredom. Scars bedecked their bodies, and they would wear the evidence of their cruelty for the rest of their days.
It galls the cleric to speak such words, but he is pragmatic/wise enough to fully understand the scene, "Leave. Now. Return in a tenday and no sooner."
A child, or children were bleeding out, so there was no time to waste on these nefarious bastards, nor would he risk the damage they would do to the gathered slaves. Another day they would meet again, and that day he would end them. The normally cheerful gnome marches southward, asking the women to remain behind, as he seeks out the owner of the bloodstains.
Soon enough the evil group is gone, leaving the goodly-bent party alone with the crying slaves. They had never been permitted to travel any further south than they were at this point, though they had watched two of the women try to unsuccessfully free their children. They had died, for there are cruel traps bedecking the complex.
The slaves promise to care for one another, and beg you to hurry. They assure you that the gnolls will not be back for an hour or two, as they wander the plains searching for food in the early afternoon.
The raw cave walls and floor transition into smooth evenly carved walls, ceiling and floor. The ceiling is 30'' high, the room 10' wide and 35' long. There are two alcoves 15' down, a door on the east wall 25' down, and straight west of it a corridor. Continuing to the 30' mark reveals a set of grand stairs leading up 10' to a set of double doors that look to be made of brass.
Nogglegrop (29/48 hit points, 38/50 mana) looks prepared to just charge right into the complex, damn the consequences.
(Kwen please include a sense traps roll in your next post)
Drops of arterial blood reveal a path deeper into the complex. They lead south up the stairs.
(please update your hit points and mana in the next post)
Difficult decisions await, for you are now responsible for 17 women, up to 22 children, and there are likely 5 more gnolls wandering about.
Running out of the area as the next two waves of fire rain down upon the sight of the fierce battle, Sajeek eyes the slavers. Realizing that he didn't trust any of them farther then he could throw them, the vah shir pulls out one of the gnolls crappy javelins. Tearing a strip from a fire dried spot, he quickly wraps one end of the javelin.
Quickly digging out a flask of oil and his flint and steel, he soaks the cloth wrapped end. Stopping the flask, he strikes until flames spring up. Grabbing the torch, he looks around and grabs his spear.
"Whatever. I have no trust left in me for the likes of them, decide whatever you wish. I'm going to see if I can help whomever asshat was cutting." The vah shir and Bast move down the hallway that Swenj had appeared from.
The vah shir swears at the sight of the dead slaves, slain by what he guessed had been traps. He glares back, forced to wait for the other now. The Beastlord was smart enough to know he wasn't going to make through a bunch of traps.
Sajeek sees no dead slaves, slain by traps, the room only has blood droplets running between Swenj's location and the stairs.
Kwen turns to the Iksar and says " I wouldn't say no to having you clear out the gnolls, but it seems that the others are in a bit of a hurry, a child might be bleeding out. I am sorry, but I must leave the to make sure no one get's impaled. " Bowing slightly, Kwen stops only long enough to pick up Zaruksis kit, then darts ahead quickly enough to catch up with the others.
" Noggy let me go first, I know we are moving in haste, allow me to move a little bit ahead of everyone, that way if I do trigger a trap, there should be less chance of you or anyone else getting hit by them. Also don't spread out, there is a limited area that I can look for trouble, and you could set something else off."
Kwen moves ahead of the party 10 ft, spending only enough time to glance at the danger ahead, not thrilled with this thought but the thought of it being Justis who is bleeding out, spurred the Rogue forward.
Just before Swenj's dramatic demise, Revery had cast two more spells: he finally got Shallow Breath to stick on the wizard, and he also made Gwendalyn invisible. She stands silent through the parlay, for though she suspects that they could easily drop the remaining torturers, innocent women and children would pay the price of her revenge. Gwen picks up Zaruksis's armor and weapons (except the ruined longbow), so that Kwen won't be too burdened by the rest; as long as she's invisible, she carries them piled in her arms, to be easily dropped if necessary.
Active Buffs
Talisman of the Beast (+3 buff Str): Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Nogglegrop, Revery and Sajeek indefinitely
Nogglegrop (24/48 hit points, 38/50 mana) feels the sting of two more spells rip through his diminutive form. With each sickly moment he curses Loki's name. Though the spells hurt, he is saving his magic for the children.
Poison Bolt:
Poison Bolt:
Gwendalyn reappears in short order. She retrieves the majority of the non-flammable items on the fallen shadowknight (random for 4 items in the backpack that were destroyed).
About 10' into the room Kwen hears that noise you never like to hear as arrows shoot out of both walls, seeking to skewer him in the middle
Arrows Strike (Kwen):
Damage {Kwen):
The gnome gulps and comforts Kwen, with a pat on the shoulder, accepting the rogue's speed, though there are possibly dying children close by, "Great job in finding that trap!"
Nogglegrop ducks, laughing, and moves back behind the rogue.
Kwen hears the telltale sound of the trap reloading. It will take skill to disarm it (DC 20 to disable, cannot take 20 on this attempt).
Revery follows the others, partially in shock by the combat, still feeling the sting of the poison. Bent over in pain, cursing the Teir'Dal, he pulls out and lights his bullseye lantern, shining it ahead of him.
Poison Bolt (round 4):
Poison Bolt (round 5):
Poison Bolt (round 6):
Poison Bolt (round 7):
He does his best to put the slaver bastards out of his mind. They'll only help to revive his nightmares. He ignores the human, who is so full of himself that he makes a little speech to try to mollify them all. Pfft.
Once gone, Revery croaks out, "I hope they meet the gnolls..."
Kwen is now considering the traps, to get them all past safely. Revery takes this time to open his spell book, and prepare Pendril's Animation again (giving up Weaken). He will wait until they are through the traps to cast it.
(HP: 4/42, Mana: 65/108)
As Gwendalyn stands there unseen, she suddenly remembers that in addition to the poison, Revery is also slowly rotting from a mild disease. Now that's something she can handle! "Do not be alarmed, I'm just healing the sick," she warns their past and future adversaries, before casting her spell. Unfortunately, the act makes her -- and her dagger eyes -- all too visible...
Later, she scowls as Kwen dashes headlong into an arrow trap, and Revery fails near to death from a poison spell that she doesn't know how to counter yet. "Be more careful!" she snaps at the rogue, unable to find the humor that Bristlebane's chosen saw in it. "You don't know what those others are like. They cannot be trusted. They could be waiting for us to come out weakened, and we won't have time to rest again before the gnoll hunters return."
Gwen forces herself to relax and focus on the blessings of the Tribunal, so that she can heal the trapspringer and the vermin bait, spending deeply of her stores of mana just to keep them half alive. Our cause is just. We are rescuing the defenseless from the lawless and cruel. Please.
Light Healing (Kwen):
Light Healing (Revery):
Light Healing (Revery):
13/50 mana, 35/45 hp
“Thanks, yeah you are right, but at the moment, we didn't need another battle. Now haste has shown the error of my ways today." The Rogue gives a chuckle then stops as he winces pulling on of the arrows that had gotten stuck piercing his armor.
His body shook from the arrows, but not feelings of poison for a change " Well now, that I have two new tooth picks, perhaps if you want to spend a little bit of time, meditating while I figure this out. Why thank you Noggy perhaps next time, I'll move forward and hold you about chest level, that way I would have a nice metal shield." Kwen says with a grin and with mock anger.
Reaching into a pouch on the inside of his coat, Kwen pulls out a small leather wrapped bundle, setting in on the ground next to him, he unwraps the bundle. All sorts of tools and devices set up in an order that only a rogue would know, each tools looks very well maintained.
Kwen strokes the tools for a second, starting to mutter to himself, anyone who manages to over hear him, will find that Kwen is talking to his tools. You catch a word here and there, then Kwen looks at the trap that he had set off, selects a few tools, gives an almost evil smile then starts working on removing the traps trigger and allowing it to no longer reset itself.
with masterwork thieves tools
Child's screams continue in the distance, pushing you to speeds that could not be considered safe.
Illusionist Revery (41/42 hit points, 65/108 mana, poison DoT cured) is carried to the edge of death by the necromancer's spell. There is fear in such magic for one never knows when the spell will run its course.
Mystic Gwendalyn (45/45 hit points, 13/50 mana) finds that the iksar was carrying a small fortune:
- 26 pp, 21 gp, 21 sp, 21 cp
- 19 peridots (worth 100 gp each)
- Spiked Chain
- Longsword (masterwork)
- Light Flail
- Longbow (destroyed)
- Chain Shirt (masterwork)
- Buckler (masterwork)
- Winter Clothing
- Oil (expended)
- Tent
- Blanket
- Belt Pouch
- Flint & Steel
- Bullseye Lantern
- Bedroll (burned)
- 50' Silk Rope
- 2 days Trail Rations
- 2 Torches
- Whetstone
- Goblinskin Sling
- Waterskins (ruptured)
- Dagger (melted)
Random (Destruction):
Rake Kwen (54/54 hit points) accidentally trips the trap again (fail vs. DC 20), and though they are incredibly accurate as they speed towards his supple flesh, luckily he is lying on his belly and the arrows miss him by scant inches.
Arrows Strike (Kwen): (miss)
Damage {Kwen):
There is a positive to the exchange, since he does not hear the telltale sound of the trap reloading: the trap has run out of arrows.
Animist Sajeek (45/50 hit points, 5/8 mana) relieves Bast (72/78 hit points) of much of its wounds.
Vicar Nogglegrop (44/48 hit points, 21/50 mana) attempts to relieve some of the remaining discomfort felt by the group, adding his divine might to the shaman's earlier efforts.
Light Healing (Sajeek):
Light Healing (Bast):
Light Healing (Nogglegrop):
Minor Healing (Revery):
Minor Healing (Gwendalyn):
Feeling more useless then normal, Sajeek heals Bast. With little else he is able to do, he stares at the bright red drops of blood. Whomever Swenj had been cutting was dead by now, of that he had little doubt. Plus they still had 5 gnolls to look forward too. 'Should be a short fight,' he thinks to himself bitterly. Given that they were barely able to defeat the first 3 gnolls, and that was with everyone at full strength.
Of course, it's not like they could retreat, the slavers where probably waiting for them. Not to mention leaving the slaves to fend for themselves.
This group had bravely foraged deeper into the caverns low on health and magical energy. It was the stuff of legends, but the story would likely never be told.
As Kwen retrieves his tools he recognizes the perils of stretching his skills too far. He is a jack-of-all-trades, but has lost the advantage of specialty. As arrows are plucked out of his side he understands, only too well the pangs associated with that course of training. Of course his skills permit him to be useful in more situations, which the group has seen the advantage of in the past. It is a constant struggle to decide between raw power or versatility.
The group had worked amazingly well together, and easily routed the evils. It was impressive considering the innate power that resided in the races that had arrayed against them. Teamwork was a powerful ally in the battle to put down the darker forces.
Nogglegrop can take no more, as the children's screams beg for assistance, understanding that the women will rush forward themselves if they take too long. There is a spell of protection on his lips as he foolishly marches past the rest of the party paying half a mind to his defence (partially defensive +2 to AC).
He does not get far before he finds the next pressure plate. His tiny size, full armour, shield and defensive stance are as nothing against the speed and accuracy of the trap.
Arrows Strike (Nogglegrop):
Damage (Nogglegrop):
The gnome (48/48 hit points, 16/50 mana) steps back and says, "Found one!" He starts plucking arrows out of his legs and heals himself.
Light Healing (Nogglegrop):
Light Healing (Nogglegrop):
Being impatient had not helped, and the gnome gives an empathetic little sigh as he looks back at the women standing silently en masse watching the group's progress.
The first pressure plate had been found 10' into the room, the next 20' in, except this one had been a tripwire. Nogglegrop had moved right past the two alcoves, so fixated was he on the task. Such tunnelvision was likely to get him killed.
The alcoves were 5' squares and each carried within them the mummified body of a humanoid creature. They do not move, or take note of your passage, but you are sure you do not wish to activate the trap trigger that sets them into motion.
The occasional rat, fat from dead human flesh, scurries about the chamber, protesting the group's presence.
(please include a DC 25 listen check in your next post to locate the general direction of the crying)
" Well I guess that is one way to find them." Kwen says with a sigh, moving behind the gnome, where he had set off the trap, Kwen moves onto his belly to find the trap and make sure there isn't another chance of having it reloading itself and going off. "Lets be very careful, I don't want or need to have what ever is in the alcove."
Search check if needed for the trap that Noggy 'found'
if no search check needed then disable device with tools:
If there isn't a trap to disable then:
Listen Check
Revery thanks Gwen and Noggy for the healing, then looks back at the women. "I don't suppose any of you saw how that bastard got past these traps? Any knowledge you have of them, anything at all, would be most helpful..."
(hp: 36/42, mana: 65/108)
Kwen feels the satisfying snip of a tripwire cut without setting the trap off.
Revery's question is met with only blank looks, as if the women are worried about reprisal from their betrayal of a dead man. One of the ladies gingerly moves forward and points to the west wall and with a shaky voice she says, "The 'master' always walked along that wall with his hand brushing against it."
Nogglegrop will be of no use in determining the direction of the missing children.
Listen (Nogglegrop):
(please include a DC 15 INT and DC 15 WIS roll in your next post to put together a puzzle of distances and direction, this is an all or nothing set of rolls and successes may not be combined with other successes)
Nogglegrop glances about, but does not put it together, though he came close.
INT Check (Nogglegrop vs. DC 15):
WIS Check (Nogglegrop vs. DC 15):
Revery listens to the woman's description, nods at her in thanks, and looks at the west wall. "Kwen, the hand brushing against the wall may well be important information. I do not know traps - perhaps you might guess the significance?"
Int check:
Wis check:
He listens for the children.
Listen:
Gwendalyn sighs in relief as Kwen survives setting off the first trap again, winces when Nogglegrop finds another one the hard way, and cheers when Kwen has just the right tools to disarm it. But she can't tell which direction to go.
Int:
Wis:
Kwen clutches his bundle of tools, placing everything back into order then starts to ponder where the noises were coming from.
INT check
WIS check
Kwen strains his ears hoping to hear the children
" Hm? Perhaps Revery, I am not to sure on that. If he kept to the west wall and placed his hand to trail the wall it could be his way of bypassing all the traps. Can you think if there any spells that would be set up in the west wall? I am getting tired of seeing any of us get hit by more traps, if you can't think of any spells that could be laid into the wall, then I'll get up, and look over that wall."
No spells come to any of the caster's minds in regards to traps, but there were hundreds or perhaps thousands of spells they had not heard of yet, and ancient magics beyond any mortal's ken.
Kwen had never heard of the hand brushing against a wall as part of a trap before, but moving over to the west wall reveals thin, thread-like bits of wire in bunches of three, all at shoulder height. They are all but invisible unless you are standing along the west wall and looking for them. The trio of wires line up with the traps the party has already encountered, and if the wires can be trusted there are another 4 traps in this hall. The wires did not appear to travel toward the trap trigger, which was confusing. More exploration would be required to glean the truth of the situation. If the woman's words were correct the traps were not triggered by walking tight to the west wall, whether that is because of the wires, or the location was unknown.
None of the group could pinpoint the location of the children, but perhaps Sajeek, or Bast could lock in the location with their feline ears.
Revery and Kwen had a general spacial understanding of the dungeon's layout, and understood that the room they had started in was to the east of their current position, and slightly south. The door in the east part of this room, or likely the double doors and turning to the east would take you to Justis. If Justis was trapped with the other 21 children such a deduction would possibly save many lives.
The screams continue.
Time presses.
The women behind you are more anxious.
Sajeek sniffs at the west wall, looking closely for any signs of... well , anything that wasn't the wall itself. Maybe a spot of blood. Swenj didn't seem like the clean type. The vah shir's ears twitch as he listens to the cries of the children, trying to use the cries to find them.
Bast watches his spirit brother, wondering what the hell he is doing. The tiger cocks his head to the left and "mrrs" questioningly. He gets a "shush" in response.