The group splits up. Qhude and N'bellocq slowly making their way towards the camp in a lazy arc around to the west while the others make their way towards the next hill to the east of the camp, edging a little closer in the process.
Your getting fairly close to the camp but no one has yet raised an alarm or paid you any heed. Your a few hundred feet from the nearest Bandu. It seems the camp is in absolutely no state to quickly react to a threat; between cooking, rutting with willing (or unwilling) females and eagerly dividing the spoils from three sacks taken from your caravan, few of the Bandu remain alert. In the centre of the camp, right near the fire, a grizzled old man is sharpening a cruel, curved dagger with a whetstone; holding it over a portable altar and scrutinising its edge. Nearby the fire is the cook Bethany, tied up and gagged with a crude piece of cloth.
You've worked your way around the camp at a safe distance and have just scaled a hill to its east. From here at the top, your several hundred feet from the camp and about as close you think you can get without breaking cover and becoming very visible. Your just below the crest of the hill, you'll be able to see the encampment soon.
Jakob smiles.
"What do you think Jeggare, will we do as well as Tebati and Ansha? I think you will find our merry band has a predilection for desperate gambles, though the concern over rescue is a recent and I must say welcome development."
In Polyglot the phrases continue along that vein, until Qhude is able to see an inkosi rise from the Bandu to meet him...
Not really waiting for a reply, she starts moving toward the crest of the hill--slowly at first, until she is sure that the rest of the group is with her on the course of action.
For lack of any other plan, you follow Ansha over the crest of the hill. Below you, you can see Qhude marching right towards the centre of the Bandu encampment from the other side, with N'bellocq following.
Knot growing in her stomach as she walks straight into a proverbial lion's den, Ansha casts Jakob a sidelong glance as the group moves closer to the Bandu camp. At least he's not yelling it, she thinks. She rests a hand on the scroll cases at her hip as they walk, the faint 'swish' sound of their boots sinking into the sand glaringly loud to the on-edge elven enchantress.
"So far, so good," she comments quietly.
Thanks for your patience. I have an encounter to resolve with the others while your marching forward. I haven't forgotten about you.
None of you notice anything amiss as you walk up to the top of the hill- but suddenly you feel the sandy earth beneath your feet feel unsteady, as though it is about to give way...
Fair point. Jeggare perception-
Just need Jakob's reflex save :).
Tebati-
Kieran-
Ansha-
Jakob-
Jeggare-
???-
Jeggare Reflex
A victim of some kind of tunnel dug too close to the surface, all of you fail to spot the potential sinkhole. As the ground falls away beneath your feet from your combined weight, only Ansha manages to leap clear, her desperate dive just barely reaching safety. The rest of you fall hard, a little over ten feet onto painful, tunneled earth and rock, into some kind of burrowed crossroad.
Jeggare-
Tebati-
Jakob-
Kieran-
Round 1
Ordered Initiative-
Tebati- 21
Kieran- 18
Jakob- 17
Ansha- 9
Jeggare- 8
Active Effects-
Everyone begins their turn Prone.
Map-
Notes-
Action-
Having fallen painfully with Ansha just barely having escaped everyone elses fate, you are ten feet down in a roughly fifteen by fifteen feet steep sinkhole. The 'chamber' you are in is roughly square shaped, with tunnels leading north, south and east; sloping downwards a little. Visibility is good in your sinkhole, but you can see only five feet down any of the tunnels, with dim light prevailing for another five feet beyond that. Ansha is stood on the western edge of the sinkhole, having just clambered to her feet.
Your pretty confident from the size and width of the tunnels, (as well as traces of their thick caustic secretions used to shore up the walls) that these have been made by Ankhegs; an all too common plague on the rural and isolated areas of the world. What worries you in particular is that its unlikely such a crossroads was made by a single specimen; more likely, the permanent tunnels of a few different Ankheg's criss-crossed; the magical beasts are fond of digging underneath hills like these...
Having successfully avoided the sinkhole, Ansha scrambles to her feet. Shrugging her masterwork backpack from her shoulders, she kneels and calls softly, "Is everyone alright down there?"
Studying the sinkhole for a moment, a concerned frown crosses her face. She reaches for the coil of rope in her backpack, taking a quick glance over her shoulder in the direction of the Bandu camp, and adds, "Watch yourselves. I think an ankheg...or three...made that crossroads."
Ansha doesn't see anything around in her immediate vicinity to secure a rope to, except a sturdy looking boulder some forty feet away.
Round one:
"Oof! Miles of nice soft fertile ground and I find a rock to land on. . Wait.. this isn't a rock. More like hard tree sap or... We need to get out of here now!" After hearing Ansha's comment. "Well this day just keeps getting better."
Jakob readies his long spear and watches the tunnels.
Tebati gets to her feet and conjures a simple light upon the tip of Jakob's longspear, making it easier to see a threat appear from any of the three tunnels hes warding.
You have intimate knowledge of these magical beasts, possibly even having firsthand experience with them.
You may view the Ankheg monster profile and you pretty much know it all, having met the DC and exceeded it by 15.
An ankheg is a large-sized, burrowing insect with a dangerous bite and a tenacity matched only by its hunger. This result reveals all magical beast traits.
As well as its lethal bite with which it can latch on to its victims (Grab) an ankheg has a natural acidic venom which coats its mandibles and can be spit over short distances. Once an ankheg spits however, it takes a number of hours for it to build up its acid once more.
These natural tunnelers can see in most conditions, and have a extra sense that allows them to detect the slightest of movements through the earth (Tremorsense).
In addition to their Tremorsense, they are incredibly perceptive even with their normal vision; which includes low-light vision and dark vision.
Kieran's fairly sure something isn't hiding in the limited area of dim light he can make out; but he can hear the scuttling of a creature coming form the north tunnel entrance and swiftly gestures for Jakob to be ready for something coming from that direction.
Jeggare gets up to his feet and brings up his loaded heavy crossbow.
Sure enough, the sound of clacking mandibles heralds the arrival of a large, scuttling Ankheg that rushes at Jakob, noxious green ichor dripping menacingly from its teeth...
Heres the map. For simplicity, its not a low-light vision friendly map but I am taking it into account for Kieran and Jeggare with description etc.
The light flickers for a moment as Jakob attacks the arachnid.
As the ankheg bears down on him, Jakob has his feet firmly planted and with the momentum of the ankheg's charge, the spear tears through its armoured chitin as the ankheg oozes blood and ichor from the deep, impaling wound it received. Wrenching his spear free, Jakob lunges again while the wounded magical beast is closing on him, but he underestimates its speed. Up close and personal with Jakob, its mandibles writhe through the air in pain and rage; the ankheg lunges with terrifying speed for Jakob but he almost unconciously makes the slightest of movements to thwart the creature at every turn as it hisses in frustration.
Miss VS Jakob
Round 2
Ordered Initiative-
Tebati- 21
Kieran- 18
Ansha- 9
Jeggare- 8
Jakob- 6
Ankheg-5
Active Effects-
Light on Jakob's weapon
Map-
Notes-
Action-
After Jakob's powerful spear thrust, Kieran, blessed by his lover Tebati, executes a dazzling series of quick and vicious cuts. The Ankheg collapses from the pain, having failed to secure food for itself. As it begins to bleed out, its large body lands with a resounding THUD... that reverberates through the tunnels...
Wincing at the precise cut Kieran gave the chitinous monster, Ansha slides the coil of rope into the crook of her elbow. Sparing another glance over her shoulder toward the Bandu camp, the elf remains tense. "Watch yourselves," she calls down softly in the sudden silence. "There may be more about."
She looks over toward the boulder she spotted early that was suitable to anchor her rope around, but makes no move yet.
Kieran Perception-
Jeggare Perception-
Ankheg Stealth-
Kieran makes out another Ankheg the others cannot yet see, due to either their ordinary vision or in Ansha's case, blocked line of sight. The large beast has scuttled into his vision from the east tunnel, trying to avoid notice as it approaches in the dim light. Its fifty feet or so from Jakob.
Jeggare apparently doesn't spot the Ankheg, but keeps his crossbow up and ready to shoot at any further threats.
Well struck both of you! the grizzled caravan master congratulates the pair. Miss Ansha, I don't suppose you'd be so kind as to actually lower that rope you're holding, we have more company... he says softly, voice tense.
Calistria, Desna--whichever one of you is holding my fate today, may it not be to be sacrificed to a demon, skewered by a savage or eaten by an overgrown antlion. Especially not that last one.
"Kerian do you see any more?"
Round 3
Ordered Initiative-
Tebati- 21
Kieran- 18
Ansha- 9a
Ankheg- 9b
Jeggare- 8
Readied Action- Jakob
Active Effects-
Light on Jakob's weapon
Map-
Notes-
Although Ankhegs are Large creature, it only has 5 foot reach.
Action-
That was the one you just skewered with Kieran. The red circle denotes incapacitated.
Kieran forms up beside Jakob and keeps his blade held in readiness to strike, warning the others of another of the creatures about to attack from the darkness with his fine vision.
Ansha moves over to a sturdy looking boulder, out of sight of the others.
Moments later, the Ankheg surges through the east tunnel and into everyone's vision with frightening speed, powerful legs propelling it forward as it eagerly charges.
Jeggare swiftly fires, cursing as his bolt glances from the beast's powerful chitin. Jakob however, is more successful; as the beast closes his initial braced lunge is clumsy, but he has time for one attack as the Ankheg's clacking mandibles loom over him menacingly as it closes in for the kill. With a mighty cry and a powerful, two-handed lunge, Jakob's own combat prowess and strength is magnified manyfold by Tebati's power- guiding the head of his spear right through the softer carapace under the Ankheg's head! The spearhead tears right through the heavy beast, ripping through the creature's flesh and right out the other end. With the single blow, Jakob has impaled the Ankheg and it dies propped up by his straining muscles, collapsing as he barely manages to pull his longspear clear in triumph.
Jeggare readied action
Jakob readied action
Jakob readied action (Bit of Luck)
Jakob AOO
Crit Confirm
Bit of Luck
With the second Ankheg dispatched, Ansha quickly ties the rope to the boulder and calls for the group to ascend. You climb out of the sinkhole entirely unscathed and with Jeggare looking suitably impressed at Jakob's spearwork and Tebati's magic.
Looking down at the camp, you can see Qhude and N'bellocq have reached the camp's edge and theres a stir in the camp as it slowly reacts to them... It looks like your Ankheg delay may cost the pair dear...
The Bandu begin to stir as your challenge echoes out over the camp and weapons are drawn, although the Bandu look a little unsure, no one yet throwing any javelins. Eventually, the old man you saw sharpening a dagger moves through the gathering crowd to address Qhude, although he keeps his distance. He addresses Qhude bluntly.
You have come for your woman?
She stops herself from making any more wisecracks about the various bruises other people took from the fall and starts moving toward the Bandu camp. "Let's go."
Intimidate:
His eyes linger on the cleric for a little longer before turning to the camp and N'bellocq and Qhude. "Although I may get my wish soon enough, yes?"
** spoiler omitted **
Too many warriors were lost in today's raid. I am loathe to spill more blood- although I could order my umkhaya to finish you now I expect the two of you would still kill several of the young ones.
The old man produces a handful of small bones and charms from inside his robes and tosses them up into the air, scrutinising the results carefully as they land. He nods slowly, apparently satisfied.
Angazhan's will is clear. This one has his favor he begins to proclaim, pointing at Qhude- but a strong looking Bandu warrior interrupts him in anger.
Angazhan be damned! he shouts, to very mixed reactions from the Bandu; some of the surviving warriors of the raid murmuring in approval but most gathered making protective signs with their hands, warding off the disfavour of the demon lord.
The old man turns to the warrior, eyes ablaze...
Looking at the assembled Bandu, the grass begins to smoulder... unless checked it may begin to blaze.... Qhude takes a step forward and crows attempting to draw the attention of the intervener away from the old man and unto himself.