"There's light where the Trogs are, bu' I'm more worried about them seeing us before we he' there."
"They'll raise the alarm as soon as we shoot or move out of the tunnels, in any case," Wulfram said. "I say we move up, keeping the light as dim as possible, while still allowing us to see what we're doing. Then we can cover the like while Rogar sneaks up into position. As soon as he takes a shot, we uncover the light, move forward and attack."
"I can use an animal aspect to see in the dark. Sia can see in low light. Rogar and I can sneak forward and attack them from a distance. Then Sia can move in at a charge right after. I wish her armor was done by now." Eustoma whispers. She draws her bow ready to move forward.
"Also if someone can get into flank with Sia without blocking my attack path. I can hit the enemy better."
"Eustoma and I can go firs', then. Ye can wait around tha bend for if we need 'elp. There are two 'o them, so we can each take one. Bu' if ye can wait jus' out of sight, ready ta take them down after we sneak attack them."
"OK, let's do it, Wulfram said. He performed a short ritual to the flame spirits.
Eustoma and Rogar sneak ahead of the group, getting to the mouth of the tunnel. As they prepare to attack, however, loose rock shifts under their feet, making enough noise to alert the troglodytes. They hiss and raise their clubs!
Karla gags on the stench from the troglodytes as she draws near, but holds back her bile as she launches her spell. The cave lights up as the spray of clashing colors engulfs the trogs, and while one resists the magic, the other falls to the ground.
Nik'o feels sick as she follows the sorceress, ready to lash out if needed.
Rogar looks around, happy to be in his element. He runs forward to serve as a block for his allies, tough as stone as he sends a boulder towards the troglodyte still standing. The smell hits him like a brick wall, but he plows through regardless, skin virtually turning to stone as he attacks, careful to avoid hitting Niko.
Rogar runs up beside Karla and hurls a boulder at the troglodyte. It smashes it square in the chest, caving in the creature's solar plexus. It drops to the floor of the cave, limbs twitching weakly.
Wulfram moved up out of the narrow tunnel, glad to be finally able to stand up. He stopped and listened for sounds in the caverns beyond.
The sound of dripping water comes from the cave to the northeast. To the east, Wulfram can hear the faint growls and hisses of more troglodytes.
"I can hear more troglodytes to the east," Wulfram said. He stabbed the unconscious foe at his feat.
"Let's keep moving," he said. He cast a spell to bolster his allies, then moved to the eastern end of the cave.
Rogar moves up to the mouth of the next cavern, peering inside.
"Good work all. That was fast." Let's keep moving. She scoops up two of the gas bladders, and tucks them away. Following Wulfram she listens closely.
A sharp drop leads to a large chamber. Rough stone steps have been cut at the end of the tunnel, easing the downward passage. Faces loom from the walls, cut from the natural stone in the form of reptilian visages. Their mouths are open, filled with jagged teeth, and their oval eyes lack pupils, making them seem blind. The charred remains of a fire sit within a bowl in the center of the room.
Three troglodytes stand near the fire pit, keeping an eye on the entrance. One stands out from the others, as it grips a spear and wears a geode periapt about its neck. None of them notice Eustoma or Rogar yet.
Rogar makes a motion indicating he's going to move forward, then creeps forward, hugging the wall of the cave until he manages to just barely get in range of the 'different' troglodyte, then waits to see what Eustoma will do.
Eustoma creeps forward a little further, and fires an arrow at the different troglodyte.
Rogar creeps a bit closer, which is when the stench of the other troglodyte hits him. His eyes water as he's sickened by the smell.
Eustoma's arrow flies across the cave, striking the troglodyte in the side. It shrieks in pain as Rogar unleashes an earth blast, but his shot goes past his target.
Wulfram cast a spell to increase his strength, then he moved to the eastern end of the cave and started down the stone steps.
Eustoma shifts to the side and fires two arrows at the different looking trog.
Sia moves forward as far as she can.
Rogar clenches his fists, and, moving up closer to the troglodytes, he pulls a stalactite from the ceiling and directs the lethal projectile at the 'lead' troglodyte, aiming for its heart.
Karla sends Nik'o in to attack as she moves forward. The lynx bites the troglodyte on the leg and drags it to the ground, then the sorceress follows up with a magic missile.
Wulfram calls on the spirits to increase his strength as he moves up, the gentle breeze keeping the stench away from him.
As Sia bounds past her, Eustoma manages to hit the lead troglodyte with another arrow.
Rogar then hurls a stalactite clear through the reptilian humanoid's chest! Blood and gore pour from the wound as the trog is severely wounded!
Grimacing through the pain, the acolyte chants a spell. A sudden spike of terror assaults Rogar's mind! The injured trog then retreats, taking cover across the cave.
The prone troglodyte gets to its feet, exposing it to an another attack form Nik'o. It tries to bash the lynx with its club, and the other one follows suit, trying to take the animals down so they can get to the rest of you. Fortunately, none of their attacks hit the nimble cat!
Wulfram moved up behind Nik'o and stabbed at the troglodyte opposite Sia, trying to overwhelm the enemy before they could mount an effective defense. He was very glad of the magical envelope of fresh air that shielded him from their foul stench.
Rogar, wide-eyed with fear, scrambles backward, getting as far as he can from the troglodytes. He gets almost to the mouth of the cavern before he regains his sense of self.
Sia bounds past the trogs, and moves to the retreating trog.
Eustoma fires two arrows at the trog to the south.
Though the trog avoids Nik'o opportunistic attack, the lynx bites and claws it again, knocking it back to the ground. Karla blasts it with another magic missile, and it is seriously wounded now.
Wulfram stabs the other trog with his spear, gravely injuring it. Eustoma finishes it off with a pair of arrows to the chest. As it falls, Sia goes bounding off into the shadows in pursuit of the fleeing troglodyte. The wolf can see a bit thanks to her low-light vision, and as she runs into the next cave, she sees another pair of troglodytes preparing to join the fight! She lunges at the acolyte, her fangs failing to pierce its scaly hide!
Rogar flees in terror for a few moments before the magic fades and he regains his senses.
The trog near you remains prone as it flails desperately at Nik'o.
Meanwhile, the other trogs move to surround Sia before assaulting the lone wolf. Fortunately, Eustoma's nimble companion only takes one hit from a club
Rogar runs back into the fray, retracing his steps to where the others are.
"I'm coming, Sia!" Wulfram called out, as he moved around the troglodyte that Nik'o was fighting, and stabbed at it.
Eustoma fires two arrows at the trog she can see. With Sia standing where she does. She takes advantage of their teamwork to Coordinate the shot.
Sia snaps at the different looking trog.
Nik'o claws and bites at the trog in front of her, landing another batch of light blows to it. Wulfram moves around to the other side and dispatches it with a powerful thrust of his spear.
Karla moves forward and blasts the rog attacking Sia with a magic missile. Eustoma fires a pair of arrows at the same foe, hitting with one of them.
Sia snaps at the spellcaster, driving her fangs deep into its side. It shrieks in pain, barely managing to stay on its feet!
Rogar runs back to the rejoin the fight.
Despite the troglodyte's critical wounds, it remains defiant, determined to fight to the death. All of the creatures attack Sia, and the wolf gets hit with the acolyte's spear and another trog's bite.
Wulfram could see that Sia was in a bad situation, with no way to retreat. "Karla, cast a spell, then I'll move in!," Wulfram shouted.
Rogar moves up and Blasts the closest troglodyte, thousands of tiny motes of dust swirling towards the lizard and barely making it sneeze.