Agrrreed, but it seems foolharrrdy to move ahead so separrrrated frrrom each otherrr Khalid, we arrre strrrongerrr togetherrr.
Khalid moves toward Grall, Tempest ready at his side.
Zeladiel moves further down the steps, incanting his cantrip.
Unsurprisingly given the now dead priests carried wands, you detect magic auras.
Grall is just about to move closer to the lower double doors when the set close to Nuveril are pulled open, the room beyond partly illuminated by the thick beam from Sajan's lantern.
The lantern illuminates a largish room going back about forty feet.
Ancient plaster frescos of serpentine beasts line the walls, an assortment of weapons hanging from spikes pounded into the
stone: a chipped iron greataxe, a blood-red leather whip, bladed leather gauntlets, and an assortment of battleaxes and throwing cleavers.
Along the north wall, huge semi-circular columns, twenty feet across, intrude into the room, creating wide alcoves, while in the middle of the room rests a pile of mildewed skins. A set of battered double doors stands closed to the west.
A female (and comely if either of you were inclined in that way) gnoll in a leather kirtle is the door opener, yet your eyes are drawn past her and the room contents to its other occupants, one in particular.
About half-way back, a massive male gnoll stands near an empty armour rack. A shade under eleven feet tall, its closer to the gnoll beasts you fought than the gnolls, perhaps eight hundred, nine hundred pounds of mass and corded muscle with the same long claws, protruding jaw and sharp teeth. A mass of tissue adorns its forehead (although it looks more welt than the scarring of the beasts).
The similarity seems physical though, it regards you with intelligence (and what looks like grim pleasure). It hefts an ebony bladed greataxe easily with one hand, the section between axe blades shaped into the form of a grinning skill with a spike protruding from the top of the skull. Two dull red lights gleam from the inset eye sockets.
Some poor craftsman must have slaved for years on its armour, a thick coat of burnished chainmail protects it from shoulder to knee while heavy plate set with thick iron spikes covers its neck, back, breast, arms and groin. A thick golden belt and silver ring are its only nods to vanity.
The Carrion King, he must be.
To the side stands another priest, equipped like the others with demon mask (some kind of insectoid fiend), splintmail, greataxe and a wand tucked into its belt.
Several paces behind the two stands another gnoll. Near seven feet tall, but with an asthetic, gaunt build rather than muscular, this one is dressed unusually and neatly in silken trousers and pants, like a human nobleman. A jewelled scabbard is fixed to a non-descript belt, holding a sheathed scimitar with a wrapped hilt. A gaggle of wands rest beside it and every finger bears an expensive looking ring. Its smile is welcoming, like an old friend.
Behind, at the back of the room, huddle another half-dozen or so gnoll women. They look as if they want no part of the titanic battle to come.
The Carrion King moves forward, his physical strength evident in every movement. Unlike some of your other foes he seems disinclined to make speeches, his left hand moving in some kind of spell-casting gesture as he utters some prayer to Rovagug in a gutturil tongue.
He speaks once in common I am Gharrtok. You've earrn't a warriorr's death. Come claim it.
And once in gnoll to the gnolls behind, before moving just short of the door (and just short of placing Nuveril in reach of the greataxe).
In response, without evident spellcasting, the well dressed gnoll simply vanishes from your sight.
The Carrion King turns its attention to the two of you, mouth opening into a bestial grin and muscles quivering with something Nuveril is very familiar with, the precursor to rage.
Across the room and through the gap between columns and wall you can just see the double doors near Nuveril swinging open, although you don't have a clear enough angle to see very far at all into the room beyond.
A few seconds later a massive gnoll moves up a step short of the doors. A shade under eleven feet tall, its closer to the gnoll beasts you fought than the gnolls, perhaps eight hundred, nine hundred pounds of mass and corded muscle with the same long claws, protruding jaw and sharp teeth. A mass of tissue adorns its forehead (although it looks more welt than scarring like the beasts).
The similarity seems physical though, it regards you (well it looks more focused on Nuveril and Sajan in front of it at least at the moment) with intelligence (and what looks like grim pleasure). It grips an ebony bladed greataxe easily with one hand, the section between axe blades shaped into the form of a grinning skill with a spike protruding from the top of the skull. Two dull red lights gleam from the inset eye sockets.
Some poor craftsman must have slaved for years on its armour, a thick coat of chainmail protects it from shoulder to knee while heavy plate set with thick iron spikes covers its neck, back, breast, arms and groin. A thick golden belt and silver ring are the only nods to vanity.
The Carrion King, he must be. He moves up to Sajan and Nuveril (the halfling just out of reach of the axe).
You hear the sound of the double doors near Nuveril opening although the section of wall before the first column is blocking your line of sight.
A few seconds later you hear someone from the room speak in common (evidently to Sajan and Nuveril in front of the door).
I am Gharrtok. You've earrn't a warriorr's death. Come claim it.
The speaker then says something else in gnoll but softer.
Rrokova. Show me your loyalty and kill theirr casterrs.
All the King's Gnolls ------> The Carrion King
Drrraw them back to us. They have us split aparrrt!
Grall starts to delay...thinking we are facing more of the Carrion Kings minions...
Linah continues her sprint down the stairs to join up with her companions. "We need to push forward! If we can..", she calls out before her sentence is cut short and she stops frozen in place. Halfway to her group she stands still, looking in awe at the massive creature that stepped out of the shadows.
You turn to meet the new threat, muscles slow and sluggish after your recent rage. It will be many agonising seconds until you can act normally let alone rage again.
It is enough, perhaps, to make you seethe in frustration.
In either case, you feel your amulet respond to your need. A pulse of energy, revitalisation. Just a trickle, a promise. Enough perhaps to cure your fatigue if you were to focus and draw on it.
Only you have the distinct impression that the energy is coming from something (or someone) else.....
Grall holds his ground.
Nuveril quivers with the urge to rush into battle, but Grall's words arrest her, as they could not if she were already raging. The gnoll is right. If we rush in, it will be a simple matter for him to stand his ground and hold us at the doorway, where no one else can threaten him, take us one by one. It is why he stopped where he did, inviting us. "After you," she growls, "and not in front of your females, lest their keening grate at my ears as they lament your death." She dances away from the doors, ducking behind Sajan and back toward the others between the pillars dividing the room. "Ready yourselves," she barks. "It is the our quarry, the gnoll king."
Sajan stubbornly holds his ground, stepping to F/G 11/12- and glaring defiantly at the formidable foe before him. His hand reaches up to caress the string of Gnoll teeth on his necklace; showing the Carrion King the many brethren who have fallen before him, taunting him.
You are simply the next overgrown, demon-spawned mongrel we have the pleasure of putting down, Carrion King.
He prepares himself for the Carrion King's assault, keeping his hands up and ready to intercept...
Just as the Carrion King moves into range, Sajan grapples him with all his formidable strength, experience and Gnoll fighting expertise. Expecting an inevitable one-handed strike from the grappled Gnoll, his movements quicken just as he makes the grab.
You ignore the amulet's promise for now although the conduit remains...
Nuveril moves back beyond the line of columns, her words alerting Grall and Khalid to the urgency of the situation. Her withdrawl draws a mocking chuckle from the gnoll King.
Linah moves down the steps, crossing the room and making it to the first firepit.
The priest moves up to the side and slightly beyond its master (E,6), slow like the others in its heavy armour.
Sajan moves back but only a step, taking up position directly across from the gnoll next to the pit of carrion. Its unclear if his taunt had an effect, although the brute appraises his size and reach.
Gralls anger has no spark...he hears the Carrion's King name but can't seem to find his focus...doubt enters his mind...without his focus, do they stand a chance???? He starts to intone a silent prayer to his Goddess, hoping for direction
Sarenrae, hear my plea! Your servant is ready to meet his end. Give me the strength to defeat this last enemy and see my friends and my people safe!
The Carrion King
Round 11
Ordered Initiative
Grall (delaying)
Khalid 11a
Zeladiel 11b
Carrion King 8
Nuveril 6
Linah 3
Carrion Priest 2
Sajan 1
??
Effects
Bless (All)
Blur (Grall)
Enlarge Person (Sajan, Grall)
Bull's Strength (Nuveril, Sajan, Grall)
Fatigue (Nuveril, Grall)
Shield of Faith (Khalid)
Weapon of Awe (Khalid)
Prot from Evil (Linah)
Notes
- The Carrion King is large and has 10'reach. His greataxe is medium size.
- The room has dim light (20% miss conditions) through to about 20' high and the near part of the pit and darkness beyond. A light spell generates 20' of normal light. A bullseye lantern provides normal light in a 60-foot cone and increases the light level by one step in the area beyond that, out to a 120-foot cone.
- The smell coming from the pit is truly appalling. You wouldn't want to end up in there...
Uncertain, Grall continues to delay.
Grall would probably keep delaying until something happens to urge him on...like the Carrion King coming into view or Sajan getting hurt so he would probably delay until after he see the CK, especially since he hasn't seen him.
Grall- come to me. Sajan says, noting the Gnoll's hesitation.
Hearing the commotion, Zeladiel rushes to the bottom of the stair as his companions call through the doorway to the figure beyond. Forgetting the detect magic Zeladiel waves an arm in their direction, and beyond the doorway a pit opens up in the ground .
create pit (Ref DC 16)
Grall continues to delay while Khalid pauses also.
Zeladiel expends the bulk of his remaining magical power, the pit opening up under the gnoll King's feet and between him and the double doors.
The warrior appears quick and extraordinarily powerful but not particularly agile, and the elf's fast cast seems to take him by surprise. He barely has to time to start turning when gravity asserts itself, and royalty notwithstanding the King falls in, dropping from your sight with a grunt.
Reflex fail
Acrobatics
Damage
Sajan looks up at the Elf in annoyance, clearly thinking that drawing him out first was a wiser plan.
He didn't need to. The intent was obvious enough.
The carrion king's plunge into the pit frees Linah from her enchantment. She grips her scimitar and walks up through the pillars and stands defiant next to her companions against the threat to Kelmare.
Nuveril shares Sajan's frustration at seeing the prey they have sought for so long drop out of sight. "There is one gnoll ... invisible," she guesses, having seen the elf cast the glamer on her companions. Apart from that warning, she can do nothing but wait for a foe she can reach....
Nuveril delays also while Linah moves up past the columns parallel to Sajan. Your fairly well scattered around the room now.
The priest risks a glance into the pit before commencing a rapid chant. A shroud of inky darkness seems to emnate from its hand creating an impenetrable blanket in a globe around it.
The globe stops just short of Sajan, covering the pit, doors and entry way. The light from his lantern seems to simply die as it hits the shroud.
Sorry no hints here.
You can see the globe if not the gnolls in it (you still don't have LOS)with your darkvision.
Sajan produces and drinks a potion of Cats Grace, taking another cautious step back towards the east. He also puts the lantern down, facing the darkness.
Sajan puts a little more ground between himself and the shroud, placing his lantern.
The Carrion King
Round 12
Ordered Initiative
Grall (delaying)
Khalid 11a (delaying)
Zeladiel 11b
Carrion King 8
Nuveril 6 (delaying)
Linah 3
Carrion Priest 2
Sajan 1
??
Effects
Bless (All)
Blur (Grall)
Enlarge Person (Sajan, Grall)
Bull's Strength (Nuveril, Sajan, Grall)
Cat's Grace (Sajan)
Fatigue (Nuveril, Grall)
Shield of Faith (Khalid)
Weapon of Awe (Khalid)
Prot from Evil (Linah)
Notes
- The Carrion King is large and has 10' reach. His greataxe is medium size.
- The room has dim light (20% miss conditions) through to about 20' high and the near part of the pit and darkness beyond. A light spell generates 20' of normal light. A bullseye lantern provides normal light in a 60-foot cone and increases the light level by one step in the area beyond that, out to a 120-foot cone.
- There is a 20' radius shroud of darkness radiating from E,6.
- The smell coming from the pit is truly appalling. You wouldn't want to end up in there...
Zeladiel runs across the open room to near Khalid .
"Grall, Linah. Just a little closer." He unfurls the scroll.
Grall will come off delay at the top of the round, put away his Falchion and move up to I,J/12,13 drawing his bow as he moves so he can see into the room.
He looks to Linah, I think we look like we could all use a little healing before facing these final enemies...
Grall's move grants him line of sight to the side room through the shroud.
You can't see the King. The priest has moved back (E,3) although the shroud is currently stationary.
His bruises still healing, Khalid casts his enchantment and looks around the room while Zeladiel runs to him.
You hear grunting noises coming from the middle of the shroud, something is happening there..
Through the darkness you can see the Gnoll King clamp the top sides of the pit with both hands and start levering his body up and out.
Hefting her hammer impatiently, Nuveril continues to delay, taking a series of deep breathes as if trying to will her fatigue away.
Linah walks forward with her arms outstreched mimicing the iconic image of the dawnflower. Each step leaves a faint imprint of soft light that fades soon after and wounds and hurts are relieved as the cleric draws near.
Linah's channel pulses over all of you as the priestess moves up behind Sajan.
.
You can hear the soft sound of chanting coming from the darknened area. It sounds as if the priest is casting a complicated spell.
You can see the priest casting (still in E,6).
Sajan produces and drinks a potion of Bears Endurance.
Enlarge Person
Bless
Bulls Strength
Cats Grace
Bears Endurance
The Carrion King
Round 13
Ordered Initiative
Grall 23
Khalid 11a
Zeladiel 11b
Carrion King 8
Nuveril 6 (delaying)
Linah 3
Carrion Priest 2
Sajan 1
??
Effects
Bless (All)
Blur (Grall)
Enlarge Person (Sajan, Grall)
Bull's Strength (Nuveril, Sajan, Grall)
Cat's Grace (Sajan)
Bear's Endurance (Sajan)
Fatigue (Nuveril, Grall)
Shield of Faith (Khalid)
Weapon of Awe (Khalid)
Prot from Evil (Linah)
Notes
- The Carrion King is large and has 10' reach. His greataxe is medium size.
- The room has dim light (20% miss conditions) through to about 20' high and the near part of the pit and darkness beyond. A light spell generates 20' of normal light. A bullseye lantern provides normal light in a 60-foot cone and increases the light level by one step in the area beyond that, out to a 120-foot cone.
- There is a 20' radius shroud of darkness radiating from E,6.
- The smell coming from the pit is truly appalling. You wouldn't want to end up in there...
Grall delays until just after Zeladiel
The so called Carrion King. Another whelp that must be put down. I see you have almost crawled out of your pit, maybe you should crawl back down and wait for the battle to end?
Sorry you probably caught it but a mistake in last spoiler. The priest is in E3 as above. Have E6 on the brain.
Zeladiel casts haste from the scroll, excluding himself. He then pulls out the wand of summon monster II.
Grall immediately acts after the magic washes over him firing two arrows at the priest that is casting...
possible crit:
Grall snaps off two arrows into the darkness. A grunt from therein indicates that at least one was succesful although the chanting continues.
Con
Crit unconfirmed, first one a miss.
Khalid moves up boldly just short of the globe of darkness, readying Tempest to strike while Zeladiel reads his scroll, the words burning off the parchment in letters of fire. The powerful magic washes over all the group but himself, enhancing your speed.
A powerful roar leaves you with no doubt as to the Carrion King's positioning even if most of you can't see him. If he was still in the pit he isn't for long, Khalid can feel hot, rank breath on his face as the gnoll rushes forward, his great axe lashing out of the darkness at the inquisitor.
Greataxe vs Khalid (bane) hit
(bane)
The inquisitor can sense the attack coming but when it does its so hard, so fast, he can't get back in time. The greataxe slices into his side and with a wave of agony Khalid can hear the weapon whispering his name....
The rest of you see the axe hit Khalid with a flash of sickly green light and the inquisitor crumple and fall, Tempest falling from his limp hand.....
He is in G,H,8,9.
Still unable to see her foe, Nuveril growls in anger as Khalid falls, continuing to delay.