Much obliged.
"To provide us a guide is most kind... thank you."
Finishes eating his Beck jerky and gathers his equipment.
"Your offer is generous. We will protect her as one of our own until we part ways. It is only right."
That is settled then. You are welcome to spend the night and theninthe morning I will introduce you to your guide and she will take you as far as she can. Kaag then has you follow him as he leaves his tent instructing you as to where you can find rest at the edge of the camp for the night. A female centaur approaches with a stew for you all and a haunch of meat for Sheelah.
You wake up in time to sound an alert noticing that 3 creatures that look like hunched gorillas with white fur, rams horns and cloven hooves have climbed over a pallisade and are coming towards you!
Venja wakes up and shouts an alarm to the others then casts a quick 'mage armor' on herself.
With Venja's timely shout the quiet camp is thrown into disarray as it is hard to determine friend from foe.
[spoiler=init]
Beck +1/2 level in cold
Helgash
Jetro
Duardlara
Venja
Venja will, if she can without getting an aoo, stand up and cast shield on herself.
Jetro grabs his bow and stands.
All of you are able to get up and grab weapons or cast your spells as the demons see you coming. They quit trying to approach with stealth as they let out giant shouts designed to deafen and throw you into confusion.
will save DC 13 for Venja, Jetro, and Duardlara or under the fear spell for 6 rounds.
Venja you know that these are Andrazku demons. This burly, primitive-lookin13 creature has an ape-like upper body, demonic horns, cloven hooves, and skin the color of a snow-buried corpse.
DR 5/cold iron or good; I m m u n e cold, electricity, poison;
Resist acid 10, fire 10; SR 16
Venja quickly lets the others know what she knows about these demons and curses as she realizes she has little magic that can hurt them... She moves back to V14 near Beck and considers her next acction.
Beck and Sheelah move north positioning themselves between 2 of the demons hoping to cut off any avenues of advance to Venja, Duardlara and Jetro. In position Beck orders Sheelah to guard hoping that the approaching demon will trigger her attack. Beck bolsters Sheelah with a well cast spell barkskin.
To the south Helgash and Greta move west and take positions as well to funnel the demons in. Both take readied actions to attack.
The demons advance and continue to try and reduce the numbers against them by casting fear on Helgash, Beck and Sheelah.
Helgash auto saves
Beck save
Sheelah fail
Jetro bravely Ser Robins.
Duardlara continues to rush to reinforce the back line. The farther back, the better.
Venja sighs as the demons remain too far apart for her to target multiple creatures, and waits to take action (delay).
Jetro advances backwards!
Helgash, knowing they have to drop these creatures fast, moves 2 west and one north and smites the creature(+4 attack and ac +3 damage)
Greta moves so she is directly east of the creature and attacks with her axe
Beck moves one west and 4 south as he converts Strong Jaw to Summon Monster 4(Since Sheelah is running away. Putting a Tiger in between him and the monster
Helgash moves forward and tries to smite the creature but the natural armor of the creature is too resistant to his blows as the blade misses a solid blow. Greta though moves up and uses her great strength to hew a massive wound along the things thigh. Blood flows freely for the first time in favor of the heroes.
The demons begin to converge on the remaining members of the party hoping to bring about as much damage and destruction as possible. The one to the north moves quicker than believed as he targets Beck and Venja in a cold icy breath.
reflex DC 17 for half
The second demon flanks with the last but can't attack due to the movement needed to get there. The last though targets Greta brutally in repayment for the greataxe blow.
full power attack
slam for
crit confirm for
slam for
bite for bleed
crit confirm for
From back in the tents you hear shouting from the centaurs as the alarm is being raised. You can't make out the words but the expression is one of disbelief and anger. suddenly Jetro and Duardlara feel a calming sensation flow through them as their fear is lifted for the time being.
Map update providing Beck makes his reflex save to bring the lion in.
(edited)
Duardlara slides to a stop, angry that she's been removed from the fight so easily. Turning around, she runs toward her companions, determined to aid them as soon as possible.
Greta HP (40/67) 1 bleed
Great whacks the demon she whacked before
Helgash keps smiting the one he tried smiting
Jetro shaves off 5 due to Tiefling resistance
DC is 10+13+4=27
Spell fizzles anyway
Jetro turns around and double moves back to his bow
Greta swings and misses while Helgash this time lands a solid blow getting past the natural armor and even penetrating easily through the resistances to weapons.
Jetro and Duardlara hurry back to thei lol action previously thanks to the timely help of the centaur shaman.
Sheelah continues to run away while Beck tries to figure out what to do since his kitty is gone. Venja likewise sits there in contemplation.
Jetro does what he does best, shoot arrows! A hail of shafts fly from his bow and it hums a tune of death as sharp points stab into eyes and mouths, sending the creatures crashing to the ground.
Duardlara retrieves her bow and joins Jetro in raining missiles on the demons.
As you all manage to fill the demons with arrows Sheelah comes bouncing along to catch up to Beck. Behind her you see a few centaurs also coming along with Kaag one of them. He takes a look at the foes you defeated and shadow of worry crosses his face. He tries to mask it but you all saw it for what it was. Speaking quickly Quite an impressive feat I must say to vanquish such foes so quickly. Perhaps it would be safer for you to come closer in the camp though. Grab your gear and I will have another fire prepared for you to sleep by. Then in the morning when you are rested we can discuss your travel plans more fully.
Duardlara you are quite certain that he was surprised at exactly what attacked you. He recognizes them and knows who and what they are and perhaps more information even than that. However he does not want to discuss this in front of the rest of the centaurs.
Interesting.
She nods and begins the process of relocating to the indicated location, "As you wish."
Jetro sighs and gets his stuff closer to the camp.
Venja quickly gathers up her things and moves them to the new camp closer to the centaurs.
That was embarrassing. Just what were those things?
Helgash stares at the defeated foes, kneeling next to one of them, and trying to ascertain what it was they had just faced.
Andrazkus are thugs who use their strength to lord over weaker creatures. Their hatred is cold and seething, prone to suddenly snapping in an avalanche ofice and crushing blows. Birthed om the protomatter of the Abyss with natural gifts r tracking and subduing prey, they are sometimes used as trackers andjailors by more power l demons who need to nd lost prisoners and slaves.
From the waist up these demons are built much like strong, hairy humans or dwarves, but with exaggerated proportions resembling those of a gorilla. Their thick necks sport bristling manes that merge with the hair on their backs, and their at ces bear two ramlike horns and cold eyes lled with hate. Their breath is Freezing and their teeth are small but numerous, like a shark's. An andrazku's legs seem small in comparison to its torso, bend backward like a satyr's, and end in large cloven hooves. Their skin is the dead blue of a ozen corpse or a ost giant. Their top-heavy builds mean they have di iculty standing upright and normally assume a hunched posture; many prefer to walk and run on all urs, like apes. An andrazku is 7 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs 450 pounds.
I reckon we better get moving soon, this attack will probably do us no favors with the centaurs.
The elf looks at the archer, "The centaurs are the ones that asked us to move closer to the camp. I doubt they will mind seeing our departure tomorrow, though."
"Why would us being attacked offend them in any way" - Helgash seems puzzled - "I do not understand"
"The implication is that these creatures came looking for us. You said they are sometimes used to hunt down prisoners and slaves by more powerful demons. Perhaps a powerful spellcaster sought to use them to capture us. Hopefully their failure means we have some breathing room, but it may mean something more powerful comes next."
"That's why the centaurs might be eager to see our departure."
"They know we are not their enemies, and surely they are no allies of demons" - Helgash grumbles - "Hence they should side with us, instead of wanting us to away" - he insists - "But I understand your words, and also I do not want harm to come to those that aid us, so let us make sure we depart early tomorrow"
You eventually settle down and fall back asleep but not before the more astute of you notice that the centaurs have set up a better watch and are facing out away from you.
In the morning Kaag calls you to come gather and break fast with him as he brings you to his personal shelter. Thank you for not asking too many questions last night to the others. It is bad times ahead indeed if the portents are true and the events of last night lead me to believe it. I know of those creatures that you fought. More specifically I know who is allied with them. Vsevolod is the leader of a group of centaurs that dwell far to the north of us. There have been skirmishes and hostilities between our clans before but nothing recent. the last time the skirmishes started he sent these demons to confront us while the bulk of his people moved in a different direction. Clearly your goals are opposed to his and a friend of my enemy is my friend. HE is a powerful priest and strong in the ways of magic. I have not seen him personally but I hear that any survivors of his raids are ruthlessly sacrificed as apparent by the remains that we have found much too late. Why he is hunting you down I do not know but be on your guard.