Govannon is disgusted by the clear bias of the judges. They have it in for the beast too! he concludes clearly.
The rancid taste in his mouth festers and he spits as soon as he gets outside.
"The fools. They'll kill the poor creature, and the murders will continue! I know who they'll blame then. Us. Pure and simple."
"Ayep, that's the word, simple. These folks don't have a brain in their heads." he swears, punctuating his words.
"As I see it we have two choices. We can leave this god-forsaken place now, while our skins are still intact, or we can try to find they Caromarc person and hope they have the power to save us too."
"I'm not a big fan of runnin', but that's what we're gonna have to do if we don't clear this. What do you lot think?"
As the villagers are beaten back, Aliseya's cold gaze warms once more. But on hearing the judge's verdict, her warmth turns to evident fury, just barely contained.
She can speak few words without losing control of her rage at the apparent meaninglessness of what constitutes "law and order" in this city of belligerent ignoramuses. And her heart breaks with pity for the poor, child-like creature as he's taken away.
"They do not," Ali speaks in a low voice, saturated with contempt. She is agreeing with Gov's assessment of the locals' lack of brains.
With a sigh, she nods to Zelda. "Yes. Lets do it. I'm not going anywhere while hope remains for that poor guy."
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Aleksander is frozen in place, struck all but senseless by the judges pronouncement. A nagging voice gnaws at the edge of his mind You knew this would happen. This is what happens when you do not swiftly send undead across the threshold. These 'friends' of yours would use undead rather than destroy them, and this is the outcome. You let yourself be blinded to their perverse actions, and for what? Companionship? What sort of paladin are you?
For a long moment Aleks stands there motionless, rooted to the floor. He numbly follows the others from the courthouse. After they speak he stand silent for a bit, gathering his thoughts. In the end, he shakes his head, decision made. "Best of luck in your quest. Whatever else you are" his gaze lingers a second on Ali, "you are my friends. But it was a mistake to try to use undead rather than destroy them. I should never have stood by and let it be. I must speak with those of my order, and do penance for this sin I participated in. I hope you succeed in your endeavors, but they cannot be mine. Goodbye." With that, he turns and walks away.
Govannon calls out to Aleksander as he's walking away. "Aleksander, I understand your position, and it was risky. But I don't think the court ruled on that point alone. It's clear they were against the beast from the beginning - as the townspeople are."
"Do what you must, and we hope to see you soon. There is much to do!"
Zelda knows that Schloss Caromarc lies some 24 miles north and east of Lepidstadt in a rocky gorge at the edge of the Dippelmere Swamp. The most direct route is a road that follows the western bank of the Lesser Moutray River.
After traveling on horseback, you arrive at Schloss Caromarc as the sun begins to set on the western horizon. The fens around you give way to a deep, rocky gorge at the northern edge of the swamp, where a peculiar building, or rather group of buildings, clings to steep cliff edges above half a dozen plummeting waterfalls. Beyond a fortified gatehouse, a stone bridge arches gracefully over the raging torrents below. Perched precariously beyond this is a fine, fortified manse and a ruined building that appears to have partially collapsed into the river below. A slender rope bridge, replacing the fallen remnants of a stone bridge, links to a strange tower pierced with beautiful stained glass windows depicting bizarre beasts. A further building teeters to the north of this, but how it is reached is impossible to see from here. Far above, a great tower rises from an isle of stone to the sky, ending in a great
steeple topped with a huge lightning conductor.
A two-story stone gatehouse leads into the castle, topped with a crenellated tower at each corner. The main gate is closed.
Govannon stubs out a cigarette as Zelda calls out. "This doesn't look good. Are we sure this is the right place? Doesn't look exactly lived in." he mutters.
If no one calls back to Zelda's summons, he walks up and pounds on the gates with the pommel of his blade for extra oomph.
"If not, maybe our locksmith can put her professional skills to use." Aliseya says, giving Zelda a knowing look and a slight smile.
Wide-eyed, she stares off at the buildings. She wonders aloud about the strange metal rod atop one of the buildings in particular, "I wonder what that's for..."
The doors burst open and two large squat, powerful and vaguely canine beasts burst out. Foul smelling fluids ooze from weeping sores across their green, scaly skin.
"Ew!"
The first hound charges Zelda, but the rogue nimbly dodges its snapping jaws.
The second hound attacks Caracotl and manages to lock its jaws on the grippli and knock him to the ground .
; 1=A, 2=C, 3=G, 4=Z
; C
; Z
Round: 1, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Arcane Pool (1/10r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (5/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (6/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
His scimitar out, Govannon 5’ steps to the side of the great beast, boosts his weapon (arcane pool) and attacks with vigor!
(arcane, spell)
(arcane)
(arcane, spell)
(arcane)
vs DC 15
(arcane, spell)
(arcane, Ray of Frost)
(arcane, spell)
(arcane, Ray of Frost)
He slashes into the hound, cutting deeply into its flesh.
Aliseya's gaze grows cold. She leans towards Zelda as the trapsmith dodges the putrid canine's assault, touching her shoulder and speaking odd words in a strange language...
Not the wretched language once more, the intolerable syllables which should not be. But rather she speaks with strong and rather guttural syllables. While quite different from the former, their brutishness nonetheless does not seem to fit the warm character of the gypsy any more or less.
In any case, Zelda feels a strange feeling of insight come over her.
Zelda sidesteps the hound and then delivers two bloody strikes on the creature.
Govannon slays the hound on Caracotl with several deep slashes and then a decisive decapitation.
Aliseya imbues Zelda with divine energy to guide her next strike.
The remaining hound turns and grabs Zelda's leg in its maw and rips her off her feat .
You note that the green flesh of the wounded hounded is beginning to knit back together and regenerate.
; Z
Round: 2, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Arcane Pool (2/10r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (5/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (6/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
After he’s sure this one’s not getting up again, he closes with the other, stepping into flank with Zelda and swings!
(arcane, flank)
(arcane)
Zelda and Govannon team together to cut down the remaining hound.
Suddenly you hear the clamor of angry roars above you. Three large green humanoids have climbed up to the battlements. Two of the green humanoids are hoisting large pointed rocks. The third (red box) is loading an over sized crossbow. Three diminutive humanoids with green skin and long pointed ears are climbing to the roof of the battlement - they carry armfuls of rubbish.
From the open doors of the gatehouse you see four spiral stairs leading up to the battlements.
Severe Aliseya stares back at the large humanoids in particular as she calls out to them in a rather guttural dialect.
"Vi komm redd livt din bror! Vi snakk omgd Caromarc før byens folk drepp ham!"
If they do not seem to comprehend her, she looks to her friends, repeating the one word that might translate into Common: "Caromarc," she says, pointing to the green people.
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Shield (1/60r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (5/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (6/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
Oh, right! Maybe we shouldn't have killed the hounds... Still, these guys don't look talkative.
He calls out to the creatures on the wall, "We're here to see Caromarc. There's a man, the Beast is what the villagers call him, who's going to die if he doesn't help him. We're here to see Caromarc in peace!"
As he's uneasy about the amount of damage the party is about to take, he casts Shield to protect himself, but he stands with Aliseya on the battlefield, though he moves a little closer to the door.
Caracotl
He double moves with the Zelda.
The green humanoid with the crossbow responds gruffly to Aliseya in the same tongue.
Zelda and Caracotl move within the gatehouse.
Govannon casts a spell. The humanoids ignore his pleas as they prepare to attack.
The humanoid with the crossbow fires on Aliseya while the other two humanoids throw their rocks at the oracle - all of which miss. The smaller humanoids begin throwing trash at you.
; 1=A, 2=G
; 1=A, 2=G
; 1=A, 2=G
Round: 2, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Shield (2/60r), Fly (1/10r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (5/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (5/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
Govannon nods to Zelda, "OK then. Let's take them!"
He activates his fly hex (standard) and flies up to the creature on the crossbow (move). He tries to keep the large troll between him and the others so as to get cover.
Caracotl
Seeing us all spread out, Caracotl charges up the stairs and at the goblin with his spear, hoping to finish him quickly and help the others.
When the gruff troll retorts stern Ali, her gaze wavers and her body swiftly contracts, her head down and her arms folded inwards as if protecting her stomach. An internal struggle seems to have quickly resolved as bones unnervingly crackle, her body contorting to a more haggish standing posture. Her fingernails extend to sharp claws. And when her head looks up once more, eyes both now glow a sinister red, and her lips smirk wickedly up back at the gruff troll.
She threatens the troll back in the more familiar yet utterly ominous speech she's used before, sending shivers up the spines of all mortal beings whether friend or foe.
Swiftly, a claw-like hand extends forth towards the trolls. In it is a grotesque bone marionette, which she begins to distort into impossible poses...
...the troll's body above mimics those impossible maneuvers, against its will. Its bones fracture and break, and it howls in pain.
And (if it fails its save) it involuntarily moves closer to falling off the edge of the tower.
Aliseya casts a spell - the troll with the crossbow (red box) contorts in agony but doesn't move. Aliseya then moves into the gatehouse.
Caracotl moves up the stairs and on to the top of the battlement. There he sticks the goblin with his spear - eliciting a shriek of pain from the creature.
Govannon flies up to engage the troll with the crossbow.
Zelda moves up the stairwell to the troll being engaged by Govannon. She emerges from the stairwell next to the troll in a flanking position with Govannon.
The troll with the crossbow drops his weapon and lashes out at Govannon with a bite and both claws - missing on all attacks. The other two trolls climb up onto the roof to assist their comrade. One trolls is able to move into a flanking position - sandwiching Zelda between two trolls. The three goblins descend on Caracotl with rusty short swords - but they cannot penetrate the grippli's armor .
; 1=SW, 2=SE, 3=NE
; 1=A, 2=G
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Round: 3, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Shield (3/60r), Fly (2/10r), Arcane (+1/flame, 1/10r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (4/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (5/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
As Govannon flies in flank he empowers his sword with magic (arcane pool for +1 flaming weapon, swift). He then takes advantage of that flank to try and end the troll right here, casting Shocking Grasp with his spell combat!
vs DC 15 to hover
(arcane, spell, flank)
(arcane, fire)
vs DC 17
(arcane, spell, flank) (+3 vs metal armor or weapon)
(arcane, fire, Shocking Grasp)
(arcane, spell, flank) (+3 vs metal armor or weapon)
(arcane, fire, Shocking Grasp)
Caracotl takes one AoO (no combat reflexes).
Once they've closed in, he's not sure what to do. So he tries to help the group at large.
Defensively casting, he fires off a Bless spell, getting everyone expect maybe Aliseya (due to the stairs).
vs DC 17
Unfortunately, Desna is unkind and she turns her head at the last moment, and the spell fails.
Wicked Ali continues to smirk from the ground below. Looking down at the two canine bodies flanking her, she kneels and touches them both on their necks. Speaking horrid words that should not be spoken, a dark presence manifests in the bodies, causing them to twitch.
And twitch again.
Lifeless eyes then open on both hounds, and their severed bodies stand upright once more. They look to the dark witch for guidance as she scratches the backs of their necks.
A command is spoken to them in the dream speech, and they seem to listen. The two zombie wolves rush into the foyer. Each rushes up a different stairwell.
One comes up the northeastern tower. It leaps on top the rooftop and lunges at the troll there.
The other comes up the southeastern tower, flanking it with Zelda as it attempts to take a nip of troll.
Aliseya casts a necromatic spell and the two slain troll hounds rise as zombies. The zombies hounds race up their respective stairwells to their directed targets (.
Caracotl skewers and kills one of the goblins that charges him. He then fails his spell after being distracted by the other two attacking goblins.
Govannon use a combination of magic and steel to strike a deep blow with fire and shock effects.
Zelda takes advantage of the flank with Govannon to plunge her short sword deep into the troll's back. The creature shrieks at the combination of attacks but remains standing.
One troll lands a bite and claw on Govannon . The flanking troll on Zelda likewise lands a bite and claw on Zelda . One goblin hits Caracotl with a short sword .
; 1=Z, 2=G
; Z
Round: 4, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Shield (4/60r), Fly (3/10r), Arcane (+1/flame, 2/10r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (4/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (5/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
”There are too many of them, I don’t know if we’ll make it!”
Govannon will continue to attack from flank as he hovers in place.
vs DC 15 to hover
(arcane, spell, flank)
(arcane, fire)
(arcane, spell, flank)
(arcane, fire)
vs DC 15
(arcane, spell)
(arcane, fire, Ray of Frost)
Caracotl does what he can with his long spear, stepping aside and attacking a goblin.
Chilling eyes of icy white-blue soullessly penetrates deep into the souls of all whom their gazes meet. Coagulating and blackened blood continues to dribble from their fatal wounds as each wolf viciously assaults a different troll leg and, if successful, attempts to bring its troll down to the ground.
Wicked Ali reaches the top of the southeastern tower. Careful to evade an opportunistic swipe from a troll's claw, she raises her bone mannequin once more. Her sinister gaze rests once more on the troll which threatened her before, the one fighting Govannon. With a twist of the neck and a jerk on the spine and a crack of the knees, the troll once again moves in tandem with her sickly mannequin. The sounds of troll bones breaking and troll howls of anguish are rather disturbing... it's fragmenting body is (or might be?) pushed closer to the southern edge of the tower.
The undead hounds each tear chunks of green flesh from their respective trolls. When Aliseya twists her mannequin the troll attacking Govannon shrieks in pain.
Caracotl steps back and seriously wounds one of the goblins with his long spear.
Govannon shreds his troll with a combination of steel, fire and frost. The brute tips and falls plummeting from the tower.
Zelda attempts to roll past the troll behind her but the troll swipes her with a razor sharp claw as she tumbles by - digging deep into her flesh and sending her sliding to the rampart floor .
The trolls each turn and quickly destroy the undead troll hounds. The goblins move in to engage Caracotl with their short swords, but they both miss .
; SE
; NE
Round: 5, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Shield (5/60r), Fly (4/10r), Arcane (+1/flame, 3/10r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (4/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (5/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
Govannon continues to worry as they are torn to pieces by the powerful trolls. Not ready to give up, he casts Scorching Ray, targeting the southern most troll with the ray. He then closes in, but only to their reach so as to not provoke an AoO.
Caracotl takes his AoO.
Then, having no other weapon I can see and hemmed in, he steps back to the stairwell and takes total defense to avoid being overrun.
Aliseya looks at the troll to the north, and murmurs the foul speech of nightmares to it.
She then looks down at her feet. Something shifts in her eyes for a brief moment as she sees Zelda bleeding out.
Her eyes glaze over after a brief inner struggle. She reaches for her healing wand...
Aliseya commands the northern troll in the dark speech to attack its comrade - the troll obeys and proceeds to turn and rend the other troll with two claws and a toothy maw.
Caracotl impales one of the charging goblins on his long spear. The other goblin turns and withdraws screaming down the southwestern spiral stairs.
Govannon hits the southern troll with a scorching ray - causing the creature to scream in agony. Govannon notices that the creature's wounds stop regenerating after hit by the fire.
The southern troll takes a 5' step forward and attacks Govannon with both claws and a bite - it manages to sink its teeth through the magus's armor .
; NE
; 1=G, 2=T
; SE
Round: 6, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Shield (6/60r), Fly (5/10r), Arcane (+1/flame, 4/10r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (4/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (5/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
Govannon attacks furiously, knowing this is a fight to the death! He casts another Shocking Grasp as he swings twice after first hovering in place.
vs DC 15 to hover.
(arcane, spell)
(arcane, fire)
vs DC 17
(arcane, spell) (+3 vs metal armor or weapon)
(arcane, fire, Shocking Grasp)
(arcane, spell) (+3 vs metal armor or weapon)
(arcane, fire, Shocking Grasp)
Caracotl, seeing Zelda down, and realizing he has selective channel , he channels energy, carving out the injured troll and goblin but healing the rest of the party in his heaven-guided light!
Stern Aliseya touches Zelda's seemingly immobile form with a wand, before stepping carefully back away from the northern troll's reach. She unemotively takes in the scene before her.
Aliseya heals Zelda before backing into the battlement corner.
Caracotl calls upon the divine power of Desna to send a healing wave of energy over the group.
Govannon scores a mortal hit on the troll with his second swing and ignites the troll with his flaming blade. The troll hits the roof top and then rolls off the edge - spinning to the courtyard below.
The remaining trolls snarls and moves to the magus and lunges at him with one razor sharp claw that shred's through Govannon's armor. . You are alarmed to see that its wounds from the undead hounds have completely healed.
;
; 1=G, 2=T
Round: 7, Initiative: 12
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Shield (7/60r), Fly (6/10r), Arcane (+1/flame, 5/10r)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +4, Str +4, Magic +1, Weapon Focus +1, Power Attack -2 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +4
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): (4/6)
Fly Hex (su/std): (5/6m)
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (5) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Healing Hex (2d8+6): No-one
Spells (Caster Level 6, Concentration +9 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14):
Second (15):
Govannon is surprised he’s still alive after all that, and he slides back over the tower (5’ step) before he attacks. He uses his last Shocking Grasp against his foe, hoping for the best.
vs DC 15 to hover.
(arcane, spell)
(arcane, fire)
(arcane, spell)
(arcane, fire)
vs DC 17
(arcane, spell) (+3 vs metal armor or weapon)
(arcane, fire, Shocking Grasp)
Caracotl, channels again, careful to remove the enemy from his area of effect!
Aliseya's stern eyes glaze over once again. With a bodily jar she screeches in the nightmarish speech once again.
Her eyes both glowing blood-lustful red, she glares at the remaining troll. Wicked Ali retrieves her macabre doll again. With several impossible poses, the doll commands the troll to painfully do likewise. The unnerving sounds of bones bending and crackling from the troll can be heard by all.