Investigation:
Arradir sighs at the elven woman's response and shakes his head when Brand speaks to him. He responds in the Hobbits' tongue, which he's learned from years traveling among their kind.
In the clearing Arradir crouches to see if he can find tracks or any indication of what happened here, but his mind continues to be clouded by concerns and fatigue. If only I could have had a good rest in Bree... But the life of a Ranger is rarely so simple.
Brand continues to move with the company, quickening his pace to walk alongside his friend Arradir. Listening to his words, he is slightly amused as the Dunedain uses the Westron dialect of the Shirefolk. It sounds almost clunky coming of his elevated tongue. I wonder what it would sound like from an elf....
Still, ye think she'd want to stay alive - it's generally the best way to get things done! But come, let's have a look around and see what transpired here. Battle I'd say, though what was it that fought the trolls?
The rest of the group is unable to glean any information. Gandalf wanders the sight talking to himself. Then looks to Baralas.
What do you sense here ? The old wizard says.
"A great evil was here, and not so very long ago. Something worst than trolls haunts these woods. A greater evil than those foul beasts. We need to be vigilant."
So saying, the half-elf mutters a few words and briefly his form is outlines in a deep maroon light, which fades as quickly as it appeared.
Garulf looks around the clearing, lost among the chaos of the ransacked site. He shakes his head slightly. He looks up sharply at the elf at his words.
"It seems that these lands are far more dangerous than any story I've heard. Did the trolls still pass this way, or do we hunt this new darkness?"
He looks to the wizards and their elected leader for a decision.
Brand looks around, and hearing the half-elf's words pauses for a moment. As the Rohirrim speaks, Brand smiles, then quips, "We hunt all even, big and small. Though are the trolls perhaps bigger, though the other thing greater? Well, guess we should hunt them both, eh?"
Brand offers a renewed effort, picking through the "miscellaneous items" cast upon the ground, trying to draw what other clues he can from them. "Hey, Arradir, got anything of use?"
In the back of his mind, he starts to ponder a darker thought... Gandalf, the harbinger of ill tidings. Perhaps the trolls really were just a side problem compared to what this wizard is going to get us into..
Arradir continues to look around the clearing, but he can't find anything of great interest. "Nothing more than a coldness in my veins--one that supports your words, half-elven," he comments to Baralas. "What's your name? In fact, if we're going to fight against some great evil, we should all introduce ourselves." The Dúnedan looks around at those gathered and gives a curt nod. "I am Arradir."
"You may call me Baralas. A please to meet you Arradir."
Garulf looks up from the mess around them. "Ha, I had actually forgotten. It would be preferable to know the names of those I am to fight beside." He inclines his head to the ranger and the half-elf. "I am known as Garulf."
Gandalf steps up and then says I believe the trolls went this way pointing in the east. This new evil I am sure will find us.
The group continues on towards the East. As you come next to the mountain range, the tracks lead to cave. There is a stone blocking the entrance! The trolls have sealed themselves in.
Arradir pauses before the cavern entrance and surveys the boulder in the way. After a few moments, he moves to the side and begins searching for another way in, figuring that the trolls probably have a back entrance, and that shifting the boulder would be too obvious and dangerous for this fellowship. He also fails to mention this reasoning to any of the others, being too used to working on his own.
Garulf growls as he sees the blocked entrance ahead of them. "Damned trolls. You'd think creatures so large wouldn't be such cowards." He steps forward, ignoring Arradir for the moment as he looks over the large rock for a way to open the path ahead of them.
Arradir moves around the cave area entrance. He does not see any other exit points. Garulf yells at the rocks.
Baralas examines the rock blocking the cave entrance, but is more worried by the larger evil he can detect in the area.
Investigation:
Garulf grumbles under his breath in his native tongue as he looks over the rock.
Garulf tries to move the stone but it is stuck. Gandalf approaches and puts his hand the fighter. Patience is needed my friend, we can wait till nightfall and deal them. He then moves to Baralas and says I will go on ahead to see whatever evil is out. Please stay here and help them. The Wizard then gathers himself and takes off into the woods. As time passes the night falls on the group. You can hear sounds from inside the cave.
Baralas nods as Gandalf heads out into the forest. While waiting he speaks with the others about plans to take the trolls.
"I have some ability to create phantoms and illusions which can be used to confuse and luer these beasts to where we want them. Is should allow our warriors the opportunity to strike the monsters from concealment. I also have a spell that causes sleep, but I do not know if it would work against these trolls. Finally I can create a shocking grasp, but I would need to touch the trolls to do damage. Does anyone have other ideas?"
Garulf nods at Gandalf. "I would prefer to face these beasts on our own terms, but it seems we have little choice." He watches the wizard leaving. It seems that he lives up to his mysterious reputation. Garulf ignores the flighty elf girl, not wanting to get in her way again unless she seems to be getting herself in danger.
"An ambush would certainly be best to face creatures as dangerous as trolls. Any advantage will be needed if we plan to escape this fight without serious injury." He pauses, thinking over Baralas' abilities. "Your illusions may be of great help Baralas. If I recall correctly, trolls are not terribly clever. A good illusion could fool them into a trap. If you can lull them into an enchanted sleep, that may help as well, though I have no idea if that might succeed. You are most certainly more learned in the arcane arts than I. Though stay out of range of the beasts if you can help it. I know little of trolls, but I know they are powerful creatures and the fewer of our company in close with them the better. Myself and perhaps Arradir are best to confront them if we must fight them in melee. Perhaps we should search the area for a reliable ambush site."
As night falls the group readies itself. The woods are dark and the sounds of the creatures are absent. The wind blows softly in the distance and the air chilled. All around the silence is deafening as the sound of rocks being scrapped as the boulder is pushed away. Three trolls make their way from the cave entrance.
Using his magical ability, Baralas creates what looks like a camp fire off in the wood away from the troll's cave. He adds some sounds as well, like several people talking softly, and moving about.
[ooc]I believe that this was the plan...right?[ooc]
Casting
The trolls attention is on the fire. They move forward as they do there is 70 feet from the cave entrance.
Garulf gives a small nod to Baralas and moves away slightly into the trees, wanting the keep the trolls away from the spell casters before making a move. He gestures for Arradir and Brand to move through the trees around to the other side of the trolls so they can flank the beasts. He creeps slowly through the brush. As soon as everyone is in position, he will strike.
Garulf is able to get to behind them. They don't see you.
Arradir dislikes the idea of waiting for nightfall to strike the trolls, but realizes the brutes have sealed themselves in and it would be best for the group to do what they can with what they have. That in mind, he awaits evening and, when the trolls emerge from their cave, he too slinks behind in the shadows, creeping through the twilit foliage in that fabled manner of the Dúnedain...
He too waits for Brand to get into position before making an overt move against the brutes.
Moving alongside Arradir, Brand smirks as he knocks an arrow on his bow. The grace of his kin guides each subtle step as he stalks his far larger prey. Settling in, he patiently waits for the signal, which the Rohirrim will lead.
Garulf waits until he sees the Ranger and the Halfling move into position. He give the trolls a moment to move deeper into the trees where they'll have more trouble moving. He raises a hand as a brief signal to the others just as he moves. Bracing himself, he lets out a loud war cry and charge the troll nearest the back of the group, trusting his allies to strike from the other side at the same time.
Arradir slips into the trees and positions himself where he has a clear shot to one of the trolls, but the straight path to him is blocked. The Ranger nocks an arrow and breathes deeply as he draws it back on the string, bringing the fletching to the corner of his mouth. At the signal, he lets it fly.
Brand looses his arrow at the monstrously large troll before him, and easy target, but his cockiness gets that best of him as his arrow plunges deep into a nearby tree.
Arradir Arrow sticks in the back of the last troll. As it turns Garulf hits hard as well. The other troll turn and will attack as soon everyone attacks.
Baralas stops concentrating on the illusion and waits until both creatures are facing him before he splays out both hands towards them. From his fingertips a rainbow of colours flow towards the trolls, in a scintillating cacophony of colour.
The first troll struck from Arrandir and Gar. Is affected the other trolls just ignore the spell.
As Baralas cast his spell the injured troll becomes blind. The other trolls ignore it. Ellishia is up !
Everybody still here or do I need to move the game to closed?
still here!!
Seeing one troll drop after the half-elf weaves some form of magic, Arradir continues to fire on the one he first shot, hoping to keep its attention drawn between himself and Garulf.
Frustrated by his missed first shot, Brand draws another arrow and fires once again at the troll nearest to him, yet his frustration continues to send his arrows astray.
Brand arrow misses the mark. Barlas is up!
Stepping quickly forward, Baralas speaks a word of two of magic, and his hands begin to glow with a white nimbus. He rushes the Troll, and attempts to lay his hands upon its rubbery hide.
Attack-melee:
Damage: plus cannot react until next turn
Seeing one troll drop after the half-elf weaves some form of magic, Arradir continues to fire on the one he first shot, hoping to keep its attention drawn between himself and Garulf.
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6