Piter: Sajeck looks in your direction, stunned that you would be talking to a slave in such a causal tone. He says in a flat tone " It is life, I don't know if master would want us to talk without him dictating terms. The last owner threatened to cut tongues of talky slaves. I wish you well in building up your tribe and I'm sure your new master will treat you well, as you seem eager to sell your self back into slavery as a "Lieutenant". " He cringes when the Loki'set starts moving, in fact the entire group sees the skeleton rush out the door.
Loki runs full out (120' per round, modified by hampered movement) until the troll starts to gain, at which point he will stop, turn and drop a damaging spell on it (disease cloud cast 110' away: DC 18 fort save to resist, 1 initial damage and 1 damage every second round for 20 rounds, 17/21 mana) on the troll.
Once he is sure he is out of earshot, and line of sight, of the cave he will yell back between adrenaline-fueled breaths, "You appear to be a chef of some repute. We could use a being of your skills back at our camp my friend."
Loki steals glances back, but not enough to endanger running into something, or losing his footing.
Zaruksis drops what he's doing and follows Loki's pet skeleton out of the cave, its hasty exit as clear an invitation to unsubtlety as he can imagine. Running along behind the mindless construct, he tries to decide which is more of the reason for his impulsive action: because it would be useful to preserve a powerful ally, or just because it's fun to fight. It's kind of a toss-up.
" Don't go pretty lady!" Loki hears the troll shout back, as you sight of it. The troll is running after you, but moves slower then you. The bad news is, you are sure it could keep it's pace for days unlike you.
Dark blue lips part to reveal a sly smirk at how ridiculous this situation was.
Loki barks back, "Your name good sir? I would know who I am pursued by, and why. I am no lady. I am a male of my species."
If the other necromancers, highborn as they all were, could see him now...
" Gunk says you look like pretty lady, stop moving so Gunk can see if this is true." Gunk, the troll says while trying to get closer.
"Gunk?" Loki considers that name like he was trying to scour the recesses of his memory. "Sajeck had mentioned a great troll warrior by that name, who was enslaved by goblins. Would that be you?"
Running and talking was not optimal, but neither was fleeing for one's life.
Piter sees the skeleton and then Zaruksis leave the cave in a hurry. Loki must have summoned him, which is good in that Loki must still be alive, but not so good considering it would not have been called unless Loki were in trouble of some sort.
He looks at Kur'Plugh and says, "I'm following too. There could be trouble. You?"
If Kur'Plugh comes along, Piter will pick up the goblin and tell him to stay on his back as Piter runs, following the skeleton and Zaruksis. He's thankful that his armor and weapons are not weighing him down. If he had a proper set of armor he wouldn't be able to keep up, surely.
Cakkarak shifts his head ever so slightly. The monk had to visually confirm what he had just heard. The Iksar blinks slowly, having a moment of disbelief. The troll had mistaken Loki for a female, even after the dark elf had corrected him. The troll didn't sound like he cared. This didn't bode well.
Seeing the charging troll is going to be running right past where he is laying, Cakkarak quickly begins running over his options. He really didn't think he was going to get lucky like with the chained troll. This one look much healthier, and better fed. The monk figured it was likely that the troll would give chase. While he could let Loki continue to occupy the troll He doubted that would end well. It would give him time to check out the cave,but Cakkarak didn't think the dark elf would be able to out run the troll for long.
The Iksar settles on a somewhat risky venture. Cakkarak will wait for the charging troll to close in on where he is hiding. Then, the monk will kick the charging beast in the part of his anatomy that is driving him recklessly forward.
Kur'Plugh looks at Piter and says " I'll follow, someone needs to patch every one back together, leave the goblin I need someone to tend to the fires. If Sajeck fails in that task, I will have a new mug to drink out of." With a glare at the goblin Kur'Plugh stands up hefting his new club he moves toward the entrance.
This was turning out to be a very bad day for Gunk, first the merchants had fought him, and he had taken some damage. The mistress of the cave had hurt him for killing a captive, his only good part of the day was chasing a dark elf woman who was trying to claim she was a he. Now a scaly shape just hit him in a very sensitive spot, Gunk's manhood tried to roll back into his pelvis, but it was now just lodged in pelvis. Gunk stopped breathing, as he collapsed onto the ground. At a full run he skids across the snow and bashes into a tree.
The frozen tree splits but the sap manages to hold the tree itself together as Gunk starts clutching his groan. Gunk also learned that trying to breathe and vomit was an impossible feat but his body was trying to accomplish said feat.
failing damage from a full run at 160 ft a round
Loki slides to a stop and watches seeks to discern whether his death magics (disease cloud) had any effect on the troll.
Breaths slowly slid forth from his lungs as he provided a momentary reprieve from the excitement of the chase.
At least he was warmer.
Speaking to the monk, as if he had known he was there all the time, he says, "Cakkarak, this is our friend Gunk. Gunk, this is a companion of mine named Cakkarak. Gunk here has been in the cave, and knows a goblin that is powerful enough to magically teleport free of this island."
The disease cloud hits Gunk, and the troll breathes his last.
Necromantic magics feed upon the troll's flesh without conscience or remorse.
Snow crunches underfoot as Loki approaches Gunk's prostrate body. With a quick side glance to the iksar monk he bends down to touch his flesh to its skin. Feeling some warmth in the creature's body he holds up a hand, producing a ball of pure entropy and slams it into the troll's chest and then feels its neck for a heart flutter.
Minor Healing:
Healing:
"If this thing wakes, please help it back into the land of unconsciousness using nonlethal means."
Loki fills Cakkarak in on what he had gleaned of the cave and its occupants.
"We should collect the others and attack now before that powerful spellcaster returns."
The Teir'dal turns and looks for his summoned minion. It was taking its sweet time. If it did not hurry he would be forced to kill it again.
Zaruksis runs along behind the tireless skeleton, enjoying the exertion, since the time drifting on the boat had inured him somewhat against the cold.
Kur'Plugh and Piter run along behind Zaruksis. "If he runs off, you must explain it to Loki," Piter says, matter of factly, to Kur'Plugh.
Loki shifts the ring of keys, given to him by Piter, to a more comfortable position on his body. The goblin had been shackled by every available manacle they had at their disposal.
He is confident that his pet could be enlisted in another venture without worrying about their captive escaping.
The fear in that one's eyes was such that he wondered if they could hold the creature in thrall without bonds, just bound by the threat of what they would do to it if it ever crossed the party.
Cakkarak looks at the dark elf, his head cocked to the right, eyes unreadable and cold. He kicks the rousing troll in the head twice. The monk makes damn sure that the troll will not be waking up anytime soon. Cakkarak was aware of how fast trolls could heal that they had suffered wounds. Perhaps not as well as his own people, but faster then almost all of the other races.
"The information concerning the cave and spellcasting goblin is useful. The contiued breathing of your newest pet is not," the iksar says. "If it gets out of hand, it is your problem from here on in. I will kill it before it becomes a treat to me, whether it has answered your questions or not." the iksar monk tells Loki. Cakkarak looks down at the troll for a moment, then off to the cave in the distance. "One hopes that you have solid chains, or some magic of domination," the monk says with a shake of his head. "Which one of us is going back to ge the others?" Cakkarack ask. After his answer, or lack of one, the monk waits a few minutes then looks at the distant
While the dark elf oogles at his troll, Cakkarak moves off to investigate the the distant cave.
Gunk the troll, starts breathing again, and is just about to wake up when Cakkarak knocks him into dream land. The cave itself has a lot of fresh and starting to dry blood by it's entrance. Cakkarak see's heat from the fire, which will aid with his infra-vision, the fire or bonfire might be more on the mark, has three humans roasting on spit, which has a small group of goblins who look like they are beaten within an inch of their lives turning the spit.
Another large troll is passed out with an open barrel of some foul smelling liquid. A wagon with a team of horses can be seen in the far back of the cave, the horses are alive and look in great condition. A few barrels are in the back of the wagon, the goblins take no note of you as their eyes have been covered up by a strip of leather.
The cave itself is wide enough to hold all of the creatures, the wagon, horses (four of them), the fire, and looks like it might have a few more chambers as well.
The rest of the party following Loki's pet are finally able to reach the scene, after running at a full tilt, and pushing themselves to make sure their allies are okay.
Kur'Plugh says to Piter " I could only hope that the goblin tries to escape, after all he is chained up, so he shouldn't be that hard to find. Plus where can he go, that we won't find him again." He says with a cruel smile, hoping to that he could have a new mug. " 'Sides it's not like he can't get more from the area, it seems like this island is infested by them."
Loki's eyes are deathly cold as he cocks his head to the side and fixes his gaze on the monk's reptilian visage.
"The map lead us to this cave seeking information about the merchants, and I would know more about the goblin that wields teleportative magics before its return. Adrift deep in the Timorous Deep, on an island, our options for escape are limited."
It is as if Cakkarak's threat, to inflict his will no matter how others might feel about the action, had failed to find purchase in the necromancer's attention. He does not address it, nor even acknowledge that he has heard it.
"I have sent for the others."
A ball of pure death energy coalesces atop his palm.
"I will wake Gunk. Please avoid a physical confrontation unless the creature forces our hand. Are you re..."
Loki pauses as his pet breaks the treeline, followed by the others. After quickly explaining what had transpired, and what he had learned he asks them to stand ready as he attempts to bring Gunk back to consciousness.
Minor Healing (heals an equal amount of nonlethal damage):
Loki stands back and lets Piter question this one. He was interested what the human's honeyed tongue might glean.
Piter sits on the ground next to the troll, hiding any fear he has of the much larger creature. He leaves his weapons untouched, for now.
In a quiet voice, and fairly slowly, he says to the troll, "Gunk, my name is Piter, and I completely understand. I get it. The dark one there is very pretty, certainly, but I assure you he's a male. Remember Elves are different. Many of them are, you know. Like that."
He laughs a little laugh, as if the joke were shared intimately between Gunk and Piter alone.
"I'm wondering about your friend, the Goblin who left the cave before you did, and went to the big circle. We'd like to talk to him. Is he coming back soon? Do you know where he went?"
He pauses, giving Gunk time to process it all and answer.
"When that one comes back and goes into the cave, will the ones inside shake? Does he hurt them? We humans, we don't like being hurt, and we hate magic that makes us hurt. Trolls are tough, though. They don't mind being hurt, right?"
Diplomacy
Realizing he has probably pushed the wrong buttons, he tries a different tack.
"You seem pretty big and strong. You know, if you came to work with us we'd probably be able to make you an equal partner, and like us you would be getting rich soon. We know where there's some good loot, and an easy fight to take it."
Bluff
Cakkarak returns to find the others had found Loki and his pet. The monk briefly wonders how, before he spots the dark elf's skeletal toy soldier. 'He must be able to communicate with it over long distances. That's useful to know,' Cakkarak thinks as he looks around at their surroundings.
After reporting what he had witnessed in the new cave to the others from the raft, the iksar leans against a tree. Eyes half closed, Cakkarak listens to the softskins talking with little actual interest.
Diplomatic negotiations were best left to those who had not used their magics to infest the recipient with pestilence.
Loki moves just out of sight and finds a vantage point to keep a wary eye on the cave. His undead construct just a few feet away acting as an eternal sentry for his master's every whim.
Piter: You know that your words are supposed to have a soothing effect, it seems that somehow you let slip the questionable heritage of Gunk's parents, it seemed to slip out. Or it could have been the fact that you said that trolls like to get hit which was meant to be a compliment, Gunk takes it as an insult and give's you a murderous look, or a look that tells you he wants to eat your stupid human face.
He doesn't attack you since even a moronic troll knows when the odds are stacked heavily against it. As for you bluff it takes some interest, but says " Mistress has contract, she takes monies and stuff to sell off at hamlet, that has very tasty humans. Gunk can't leave her service, she says so, Gunk try to follow orders as best as Gunk can."
A naturally-sculpted eyebrow climbs skyward, and the necromancer turns to consider Gunk, and the words that the troll had spouted.
Sense Motive:
Loki speaks loud enough for the troll to overheard, "Piter, it is obvious that Gunk is lying. He probably doesn't even know anything about this 'mistress', or the 'hamlet', and is just making up stories on the spot to save his skin."
Bluff:
Cakkarak finds a a small burr on one of his finger claws. He works on smoothing it out, gently scraping another claw against the burr until he can pull of the damaged part before it can crack. The monk has had such claw cracks become infected from burrs and splinters. He had found the damage tends to works it's way towards his fingertips.
The sound of the troll becoming angry, Cakkarak drags his cold eyes up from where he works. Seeing it not rise to attack, the monk leans back agaist the tree.
Piter looks to see if Gunk appears to be healing naturally.
He stares hard at the troll, and stands and picks up his bow, putting an arrow in it and aiming it at the sky. "This is a fine bow..... Listen, Gunk, you're not with Mistress right now, you're with us. Now listen carefully. Tell me about the mistress. Is she the one using magic? What can she do, Gunk?" He aims his bow at a tree, then stares at Gunk again.
Piter, you see that Gunk's wounds are closing almost in time to not be surprised that he attacks you, you are able to act in the surprise round as he lunges forward to bite you in the legs, showing a lack of fear.
Cakkarak you are also able to act in the surprise round, the troll is trying to eat the squishy human. Loki your attention was more focused on the cave itself, as was Zarukis, and Kur'Plugh. The entire group hear's the troll shout at the top of his lungs " To Arms, Tasty Merchants!!!!!!!!"
if Crit, roll to confirm (Piter)
Damage if hit (Piter)
Damage if Crit Confrims (Piter)
Loki is not overly worried about the troll's screaming.
He was 1000' from the cave and had ran straight away from it before the troll had magically caught up to him, how else could he explain the impossible speed of the thing, and he was confident that they were more than a scream away considering the wind and the fury of the winter about them.
With almost bored calm the Teir'dal leaves the troll to the others. These things healed over hours, rather than seconds. It was sorely injured and his healing spell had not been that powerful.
His eyes flit back and forth from the donnybrook behind him to the cave mouth.
Without concious effort, Cakkarak breathes away the mote of anger that had tried to grow within his mind. The monk would have bet his left arm that the troll was going to attack them without giving them any real information. Time wasted that they could have been preparing to attack the cave and slay the passed out troll and blindfolded goblins. Exhaling his emotions, retaining his sense of deep calm Cakkarak's eyes snap all the way open. The iksar monk inhales the almost painfully crisp air. Mind clear, Cakkarak's cold green eyes lock onto the troll.
The iksar gracefully takes a full step forward, moving like a hunting serphant. Cakkarak's clawed foot is a blur of motion as he snap kicks the furry troll. Cakkarak had thought the tree that he had been leaning on was within perfect striking range. Hence the monks choice of staying by it and his seeming uninterest in the proceedings. The troll had all but forgotten about the iksar. A fatal mistake that many had made.
Piter has his bow out, so he takes a quick shot at Gunk and prepares to switch to his glaive next. "You really DO like pain! Prepare for more!"
Attack with bow
And the troll is still awake and not too thrilled, Loki you do notice some movement coming from the cave. You are not quite sure who it is as what little light that the group had (besides those of you with infra-vision) has no faded into dark. The sun has set and the stars are not coming out, due to the clouds that have rolled back in. Gunk the troll is swiftly taken care of, the party knows that there is another troll and at least a few goblins.
The efficient dispatching of the troll is of no surprise to the Teir'dal. These were effective combatants that were perfectly at home in strife and gore.
Loki starts towards the cave. They would need to learn more of this Mistress and the merchants.
Zaruksis watches with bemusement as Loki actually revives a troll. But they're such good fertilizer. Hey, maybe I should start a garden! Wait, is that pessimism or realism? I hope to get out of here soon, but it would be nice to have fresh, troll-fertilized vegetables to eat in the meantime... hmmm.
Preoccupied with his own thoughts, the intellectual iksar ceases to pay attention to what's going on until the troll (predictably) attacks the human. The short, burly shadow knight springs into action, drawing his fancy longsword, ducking under the clumsy beast's flailing arms to step inside its reach, and swinging at the nutritious brute's vulnerable belly.
As it starts to get dark, Piter asks the others, "I don't suppose anyone has a flint or other spark so I can light a torch? I won't be much help in the dark"
Loki had deduced that the "mistress" was most likely the female goblin with the raspy voice he had heard berating the troll earlier. It is a bemused Teir'dal that wends his way toward the cave, for her interaction with Gunk was reminiscent of his with Cakkarak. He could commiserate with the frustrations associated with trying to use a blunt took for detail work.
Perhaps, after all this madness was behind them, they could meet for drinks and discuss the failings of the "attack first, think last" mentality.
Her method of transport intrigued him. It was doubtful that she was a wizard of sufficient powerful to teleport free from the bonds of this island. His rationale came from many lines of deduction: goblins rarely rose the ranks of high wizardry possibly because of a lack of opportunities or brains, a powerful wizard would not need such pathetic minions, and he doubted that any creature of the means to travel anywhere on Norrath would dwell within a cave. She had moved to the area of magical energies to leave the cave, and in that area he imagined he would find his answers.
Imploring the others to stave off their bloodlust he says, "Many answers hide behind their lips. There are merchants, mistresses and maps at stake. The riddle of this alliteration could possibly be the difference between living and dying, escape from this island and being left stranded, and possibly becoming wealthy and powerful or destitute and forgotten. Nonlethal means of subduing our opposition affords us the greatest opportunity to extract such information."
His words fell on the others, and would slide into ear canals if they were found open.
In response to Piter's query the necromancer simply points to the source of illumination within cave they were approaching. Within was bon-type fire that the blinded goblins were using to roast a trio of his surprisingly sumptious race.
"The slumbering, and possibly intoxicated, troll is our main target."
The necromancer, utilizing his perfect night vision, glances about for some sign of the movement he saw near the cave entrance, and also looks for some sign of the weapon the sleeping troll is most likely to employ.
A chill hangs upon his next words, "If it starts casting spells, then slit its throat."
The Iksar calmly leans down to make sure the the troll is indeed dead. Cakkarak is discovering that he truly dislikes trolls. He would outright hate them if he allowed himself the luxury of the emotion. Powerful emotions were distracting from his sense of calm. A state of mind that Cakkarak functions best in. Finished checking the troll, (he'll simple break the trolls neck if he finds it to be still alive), Cakkarak stands and begins stalking back towards the cave he had recently scouted.
The monks slips towards the large cave enterance, quiet as the falling snow. As he follows the others out, Cakkarak catches a bit of what the necromancer was saying. The dark elf wanted more prisoners it seems. At Pieter's request for light, Cakkarak is left wondering how humans have managed to florish so well. 'Perhaps it is their abiltiy to breed like rodents,' the monk thinks briefly. Pushing the distracting thoughts out of his mind for the time being, Cakkarak focuses on his current task.
If their timing was good, they should be able to subdue the hungover troll with little. If their timing was poor on the other hand, they might not be as fortunate.
Piter realizes the group is going to attempt the new cave right now. He follows along, not wanting to be too noisy in his chain shirt. He says quietly to Cakkarak, "Do you want to sneak ahead and try to pound the troll into unconsciousness while he is asleep?"
The irony of that statement is not lost on Piter...
As the group slowly makes it's way forward, you see another troll sized creature bend over, using it's spear to help hold it's balance. The creature grabs a hand full of snow and press it against it's forehead. This is at 500 ft away from the cave entrance, those of you that are moving forward, make sneak and hide checks and hide checks, as there are plenty of trees to duck behind, to help hide the heat your body is making.
"The other troll is awarke," Cakkarak whispers to Pieter. "I think it is hungover. I believe that it had passed out from drinking when I had scouted eariler." The iksar looks at the distant cave. "now we must be as silent as possible. I don't the goblins will be much resistance, just the troll."
Cakkarak begins to sneak, seeking to get into a good spot to at least try and ambush the newest troll.
Goblins, trolls, and sumptuously-broiled human flesh. It would be a travesty if Gunk was the cook, for the creature was nothing less than a virtuoso with long pig.
The necromancer moves forward slowly finding refuge moving from tree, then planning his route and sliding to the next.
Sneak:
Hide:
His pet is left collapsed into an unmoving pile near Gunk's body.
Once everyone has found themselves behind a tree wide enough to fully block their heat signature, he waves for them to stay still for a moment. For all of them to cover 500' en masse, without being noticed, would be nothing short of a miracle.
Whispering to Cakkarak, "Piter's idea had merit. I do believe that this is your area of expertise." Loki leans his back against the tree and waits for the monk's next move.
" I've got an idea." Kur'Plugh whispers to Loki " I'll stride right in keeping the troll distracted for the rest of you and see if I can distract the troll long enough for the rest of you get to get close enough to rush him. " Kur'Plugh smiles, letting the others know that the ogre had a few tricks up his sleeve.
Loki nods and prepares to be of some use once Kur'plugh has gotten into position.
Zaruksis hides behind a tree without trying to get closer yet, since he's good at a lot of things, but sneaking isn't one of them.
Zaruksis I need a hide check from you and Piter if you are ducking behind a tree or the ground whichever one you would prefer.
Kur'Plugh starts to stalk forward, as he get's closer to the troll about 80 ft away from the entrance, he starts to looking as nonthreatening as an ogre can be wrapped in clothing that is at least a size too small.
The troll didn't take not of Kur'Plugh until he was 100 ft away, not sure if the ogre was an hostile creature or just another wandering monster looking for grub.
Everyone is taken by surprise as some words are exchanged and the troll drops it's on guard stance and appears to be at ease, even laughing at something Kur'Plugh says.
Loki patiently waits for Kur'plugh to maneuver the troll around so the giant guard is no longer looking in their direction. Sliding around the tree he starts to slowly stalk straight towards the duo, triggering his pet to keep pace.
Noise would be made, but hopefully covered by the booming voice of the ogre.
A spell teeters on the Teir'dal's lips. He will unleash a cloud of disease should this situation go awry.
Cakkarak continues stalking forward along the ground. He had been mildly surprised to hear the sounds of laughter from the troll. The monk had been expecting a few roars and insults and then attacks raining down upon the ogre. 'Perhaps trolls very creatures their own size differently,' Cakkarak reasons as he creeps forward.
With the patience of a trained assassain, the iksar moves. When moving in a crouch raises the risk of him being seen, Cakkarak shifts to creeping along on all four limbs.
Seeing the troll well distracted by Kur'Plugh, Cakkarak feels confident enough to raise back to a crouch as he moves. It would be more difficult then he would like, attacking the troll while lying almost flat on the ground.
Once he manages to get close enough, Cakkarak waits a few moments to see if Kur'Plugh sees him. Once he does, the monks waits a few heartbeats for some kind of single before he launches his own surprise attack.
Kur'Plugh gives a twist of his hand in a come forward motion to the others, as that hand is currently behind his back as if the ogre has an itch. He completes the motion with scratching the middle of his back. Keeping the troll's attention isn't too hard for the ogre, as the monk get's closer you hear the ogre talking about roasting humans, and the troll talking about Gunk and the way he gets the meat so tender.
When the monk sinks his foot into the trolls spine, it is taken completely by surprise, Kur'Plugh grabs his great club and swings it to hit the troll's head, while it is turning to face the Iksar monk, then rams his shoulder into the troll as well.
To hit troll
Damage
Slam attack on normal round
Damage
In the future the necromancer would be strong enough to dispel his damage over time spells, but currently they were too crude a tool to use in such a situation.
Loki ignores the combat and carries on to the area of magic effect. He approaches with guarded consideration, taking no risks, and moving tentatively.
A cyan orb flits to the battle from time to time to watch its progress, hoping they would have a prisoner to talk to in short order.