The hound next to Appario takes a swipe of its jaws against Maddok as the warrior moves past.
Its teeth slide into Maddok, dealing 10 damage, and attempt to tear him to the ground.
But it fails to do so, and Maddok crushes the other hound with a single strong blow.
***
Maddok levels his gore-caked hammer at his foe in a promise of what was to come.
Appario will 5' step to Z9 and continue his assault.
to hit;
damage;
to hit;
damage;
to hit;
damage;
Potential Crit #1:
to hit;
damage;
Potential Crit #2:
to hit;
damage;
Xerath moves to AC7 and strikes Mastiff #11.
"Come get your food doggies, the house special today is stabbing pain, come get it while it's hot!"
Derek stays back, knowing that he works better if he does not get too far ahead of the others, especially his big brother and his mighty hammer.
Though magically quick on her feet, Yahirma sees little reason to move farther than to AC8, where she again readies her staff—this time to unbalance any hound that approaches.
The hound Xerath stabbed steps forward and snaps at the sorcerer.
But is stymied by Xerath's magical protections and Yahirma's protective 'bonk'.
Another hound moves in to aid its packmate and risks Xerath's spear.
The hooded man's defensive blow wounds the beast enough for it to miss with its own attack.
The final two hounds attack as well, one charging Appario and the other moving in to attack Maddok.
Both lock their jaws on armor they find too tough to penetrate or layers of magical defenses.
***
Maddok bats the hound's ill-placed attack away and brings his hammer down with crushing force.
His first two blows crack the mastiff's skull and shatter its neck. His third blow bludgeons the one assaulting Appario soundly. Maddok takes a step forward.
Yahirma stands ready to move out of Xerath's way—ideally once Hound #14 falls.
Being surrounded left him litle choice as Xerath attempts concentrate on a spell.
Magical glowing dust appears out of nowhere and covers Mastiff 11 and 13, threatening to blind them.
The hounds' ferocious snarls turn to whimpers as the explosion of sparkling glitter robs them of their sight.
Time to really see what this speed can do!
Crouching low, Derek takes a step forward and then violently uncurls his body to full height as he thrusts forward with the trident, then violently swinging it from side to side in an attempt to catch and rend the hounds flesh.
Appario will dance to AA15, striking at the blind mastiff #13, before ending up in AC15 (provoking from #12...vs. AC 30).
to hit;
damage.
Xerath's arcane missile distracts the mastiff long enough for Derek's deft blows with the Mhartis heirloom weapon to strike it down.
The remaining missiles collide with one of the hounds and combined with Appario's blow nearly bring the shadowy canine to its knees... nearly.
Yahirma steps back and prepares to swing her staff defensively should the hounds pursue the sorcerer.
The two hounds snarl and attack those that last hit them.
Neither of their jaws meet soft flesh although Xerath just barely evades harm due to his supernatural speed and Yahirma's warding staff.
***
Sensing the battle is under control, Maddok calms himself and allows his primal fury to bleed away.
His steps forward and attacks, aiming to finish off the two wounded mastiffs.
The first blow causes the hound last struck by Appario to crumple and the last causes the final mastiff to reel in pain.
Xerath steps back and strikes it down with his spear.
Maddok surveys the battlefield.
"Well struck little brother. It appears your time training with the Antuin and your new 'gifts' are showing their effects."
The big Shoanti also reflects on the power Xerath's blows had behind them.
"Did you enchant yourself with a new spell? I don't recall seeing so much weight behind those attacks with your spear last time you wielded it."
"My brush with death has changed me. Let's leave it at that for now. And thank you Yahirma for your aid."
"Can I suggest we do not linger too long? The howls will have drawn attention; we may not want to be here when the Dottari...or even Hellknights arrive."
"...I will admit it felt rather good to fight like that, few things are as satisfying as finding the goal you worked towards achieved."
The big Shoanti nods in agreement and then leads the group into the building through Ophal's house and to the stairs leading down to the basement.
Appario pads along, following the group.
The building appears deserted; the group faces no opposition on their way to the staircase or on their way below. After descending at least 50 ft into the darkness, with only the Morrowfall providing light to guide their steps, the group finally reaches the narrow stone landing at the end of the staircase. Moored to the platform's edge is a flat-bottomed boat fitted with a pole for pushing it.
Opening before them is a huge natural grotto, with a murky pool covering the cavern floor. There's no telling how deep the dark waters go, although judging by the length of the boat's pushing pole it's likely no more than 20 ft to the bottom. The ceiling of the grotto soars 30 ft overhead through a maze of stalactites. The Morrowfall's light and Appario's keen eyes reveal a number of platforms about 20 ft up among these stalactites.
A water-filled tunnel 10 ft in height and width exits to the north, past a set of rusty iron bars. Barely seen, even with the Morrowfall's guidance, is the cavern's extension to the south-east.
***
"Best be careful, we've seen that hidden dangers love to lurk underneath the surface...eh Appario?"
Maddok nods at his little brother's suggestion, "The spirits will lend their aid."
Four small roughly humanoid shapes made of dark ice appear on the water's surface.
At the site of the ice elementals, Appario nods at Derek knowingly.
He's probably thinking exactly what I'm thinking.
Chuckling a little as he nods back at Appario, Derek can't help but suspect that there is a storm of puns coming soon.
"So yeah...we should totally get some of the ice e's to keep our beer and ale cold, don't you think? A few of them swimming in our barrels will keep them cold. Our customers will love it. Right?"
Maddok ignores the puns directed at the noble spirits and watches the ripples as they drift through the water.
The elementals spread out to cover a larger area of the cavern's water, and it doesn't take long before the ripples of other, larger creatures also show on the water's surface. A pair of lobster-like creatures with thick, armored shells break the surface near two of the elementals. Tiny eyes gleam above mouths full of writhing tentacles, and huge pincers seek to snap the elementals in half.
***
These creatures are Aberrations known as Chuuls. They are predators usually found in shallow ponds, where they hide near the bottom until prey appears. They then burst from their spots of concealment to snatch prey and drag them back underwater to eat.
Chuuls are fairly slow, but good swimmers. They are amphibious, and often make their way onto land in their search for prey. They can also see in the dark.
A chuul can catch and hold victims in their constricting claws.
They are surprisingly intelligent, and speak a burbling Common among themselves. They are, however, not likely to speak to members of any other race.
Aberration traits are also revealed.
As above, plus: Chuuls are immune to poison, and are efficient fighters even when facing concealed foes.
Once a chuul has a victim trapped in a claw, it can transfer that victim to be held by the tentacles around its mouth. The tentacles exude a paralytic secretion, and in addition the creature's mandibles begin chewing on the held victim.
***
Current Initiative order:
22 - Appario
21 - Yahirma
18 - Chuuls
14 - Derek
13 - Maddok w/elementals
3 - Xerath
***
"Chuuls! Don't let them trap you in their claws!"
Maddok calls out to the elementals.
Once Derek recovers from the shock of seeing TRUE Abominations like those he quickly finds his voice and in rapid succession sings out a spell, followed by a proud declamation of imminent victory.
Round 1, Init 22
"What? Jewels?! WHERE!?"
Appario delays, alerted and confused.
"He said Chuuls, not jewels, you greedy idiot."
"What? 'Chule'? Ah...not jewel? Damn fool. At least it's not ghouls."
Appario will draw his bow and nock an arrow, readying to shoot a "chule" when one is seen.
to hit;
damage.
"Sigh..." Xerath contemplates jumping into the water. Dealing with a Chuul was way more desirable than dealing with a fool.
Interested herself in landing these creatures in reach of her allies, Yahirma readies herself to call the hag-spirit to herd the chuuls to the dock.
Both chuuls move towards the ice elementals closest to them and attack (with reach) while remaining partially submerged.
Both chuuls hit with their claws, leaving one elemental dead. The injured elemental faces another trial, as the chuul attempts to grab hold and constrict.
It too succumbs, as the chuul's pincers snap it in half.
***
Seeing the enemy well out of range, Derek reaches back and retrieves his darkwood bow, reflecting on the fact that he might want to consider upgrading it at some point.
"Let's see what you've got old girl..."
The remaining frozen elementals heed Maddok's warning and gracefully swim towards the party.
Maddok looks on and realizes he has no way to attack the creatures at range.
"Xerath, I have need of your spear."
Taking the polearm in hand, Maddok readies to strike if the monsters come within range.
Xerath mutters an arcane verse and with a brief gesture, sends a volley of arcane missiles into one of the aberrant monsters.
Round 3
Appario delays until he can see a bad guy to shoot.
When they do pop up, Appario will come out of delay to take his full, hasted turn.
***
Both Appario's and Derek's arrows hit the chuul, as does Xerath's force missiles.
***
Noting that dockside real estate will be at a premium, Yahirma moves to M1 on the stairs, where it appears she will have a respectable view of the water without being in anyone's way.
The chuuls, being just as intelligent as the average human, duck below the surface to stay out of sight from those firing arrows and missiles. The few slow-moving ripples suggest they're moving in the general direction of the group.
***
Maddok issues directions to the frozen spirits and holds Xerath's spear at the ready.
"Brothers, where are they? Hold until they close and then strike!"
Yahirma waits for just the right moment to call her ally, though she remains wary of the grasping claws of the cunning crustaceans.