With guardians like that, this was probably the place they were looking for. The hounds looked made, just like Charlie had. To the others, she points.
"Some big dogs out front, there. Strange-looking dogs."
"So the place is occupied and guarded."
"Do you see any sign that Charlie came this way?"
Smaranda shakes her head. "I am no hunter. I cannot read tracks." She glances at Silas and the others. "You can ask the folks who live here."
"So, want me to walk up to the gate and see if I can get ahold of someone?"
Note, of course, that you'll be walking directly up to the dogs. They're on chains, but they look to be pretty long ones.
Gauging by appearances, these are not the usual farmer hound dogs.
"We're here to investigate Charlie's origins, but we don't know that this place is infested with villains."
"I don't see that we have much choice except to approach the gatehouse."
"We don't really have the means to get in otherwise."
Brother Silas starts forward with Gur to get a closer look.
Not liking the idea of being near the dogs but also not having a better on how to avoid them and infiltrate the mansion, Cassidia takes a moment to draw her sword and heft it 'casually' on her shoulders as she moves to follow Gur and Silas, keeping a good distance between herself and the unnatural hounds.
Leeoli shrugs and follows.
Not wanting to be left behind, Smaranda trails behind the others, trying to keep away from the hounds.
Gur continues to lead the way, unafraid of the beasts or what they might do.
"I'm with you my friend."
You move out of hiding and onto the path heading up to Schloss Caromarc. As soon as you're in sight, the dogs start letting out deep bass "woofs" that are exceptionally loud. Before you're able to get much closer, you see a fairly large figure pop its head over the parapet at the top of the gate. It's big, green, ugly, and roars out a challenge, it's huge tusks showing as it does. It raises a rock, ready to throw.
The distorted barking Cassidia expected, but the troll she did not. Rushing forward toward Gur and Silas she shrugs her sword off her shoulders and calls out "Going for the dogs - someone cover me." and with a whispered mantra flickers before vanishing entirely.
At the signs of hostility, Smaranda sprints forward, weaving between the other members of the party. Shouting "We need to talk to the master of the manor!", the girl moves to catch the foremost hound in a headlock - she does not wish to harm the animals, they are simply fulfilling their function to guard against intruders.
Cassidia runs in, her movements a blur of supernatural speed. With a deft move, she slips inside a hound's defenses and wraps him up.
Leeoli runs up and skewers the hellish hound with a well studied thrust. Leeoli whirls, and begins to parry.
At the appearance of the large rock-throwing humanoid on the battlement, Silas casts Shield of Faith on himself.
+3 Deflection bonus to Silas's AC
Then he makes a 20' move forward towards the gate.
Silas rushes alongside Gur, trying to keep pace with the massive orc. Leeoli rushes in as well, and stabs through one of the hounds with his blade. The beast howls in agony, and then snarls and bites back! Leeoli nonchalantly sweeps his blade to the side to divert the beast, then slips it in under the creature's guard to stab it again!
The other hound wriggles about in Smaranda's grip comically, as the massive beast is held soundly in place. It then lets out a short cough of a bark and snaps forward to bite at its holder, chomping down on her shoulder! It then rips aside and down, attempting to knock Smaranda to the ground under it; the steady monk however, will not be moved. The bite festers almost immediately inside the vile thing's mouth.
Smaranda grunts as the hound chews on her deltoid. Wish I could tell you that I'm trying not to hurt you, you dumb dog!
Forlorn by yet another fight with creatures he would rather not have to kill, Gur steps up to help his companion. He brings his axe down to bear upon the creature grappled by Smaranda
Gur chops down with his supernatural strength, nearly cutting the hound in twain. The canine beast howls out its agony, and goes nearly into a frenzy within Smaranda's hold as it tries to escape.
As the playful pups suffer under the onslaught of these animal-haters trying to invade their paradise, another troll reveals itself atop the gatehouse wall, its body no doubt squeezing its way through the stairwell. Their ugly faces turn to rage as they heave huge rocks down at the attackers!
They are, most certainly, not very accurate, and the rocks fly wide!
"Dumb dog." Smaranda whispers, regret in her voice, as she goes to punch the one she's holding in the head.
Rufus rushes forward, drawing his greatsword along the way.
Still invisible and having not been scented by the unnatural hounds, Cassidia rushes past the others and steps away from the hound already under attack, flickering into existence at the side of the other and driving her blade deep into the abomination's flesh.
Silas closes up on the scrum at the gate.
He casts False Life on himself.
Their wounds mend unnaturally fast!
Cassidia appears and strikes at the hound between her and Leeoli, cutting it down. The hound falls to the ground with a sharp bark, dying. You can see its wounds begin to heal, though.
Smaranda slams her hound with blows over and over....and over, battering the beast's head until its eyes roll back and it falls unconscious. This hound also begins to heal, right before your eyes.
Behind Cassidia, a small voice exclaims.
Leeoli siezes the opportunity and performs a studied strike against the downed dog.
Leeoli stabs down into the beast, skewering it to the ground. Still, its body seems to be healing itself - it should be quite dead!
Why can't this hell hound stay put down? Leeoli ponders aloud.
Leeoli knows these to be trollhounds - beasts made with troll blood. They're hardy and strong.
Are Trollhounds susceptible to weapons of certain materials?
Can they die from normal wounds?
Trollhounds can be hit by any weapon, but will regenerate any wounds unless hit with acid or fire.
These can only be put down by fie or by acid! Leeoli pulls his rapier out of the body watching the wound knit as he did so. Rufus, do you not carry alchemists fire upon your person?
Acid? Smaranda clenches her fists, turning them as she examines every detail of her skin, how her knuckles protrude, the veins on the back of the hand, the fine hairs, every crease and line. Leooli's voice becomes muffled as she turns inward, her understanding and command of her body sharper than ever. Slowly, a fluid begins to ooze from her pores, coating her fists, and she smiles in triumph.
Her voice rings louder than usual, filled with confidence. "I got this."
"We must breech the gate!" Brother Silas calls out.
Gur charges the gate.... ... and bashes the gate with all of his might.
Gur moves in and smashes the wooden gate with his axe, sundering the door to pieces!
You're immediately greeted by the sight of a goblin, with two more of its brethren behind it! The little goblin squeaks, then swings at the mighty Gur with a chipped and rusty small chopper. Of course, Gur easily turns the blade aside.
The two other goblins cower on the far side of the gatehouse, near another gate that leads on to the north. In the meantime, the trolls roar and step down from their improvised perch half up and half down the stairs. One of the trolls lashes out at Gur with their claws, reaching over the now precariously placed goblin to cut a gash in the invading orc
The other troll shoves the goblin forward with a snarl and a mighty kick to its back, trying to hurl it at Gur. The move works, but only barely, as the goblin is nearly able to grab the adjacent wall to keep from flying at Gur. It slows its speed enough that when the goblin hits Gur, it merely bounces off. It shouts out to the troll.
Suddenly, another roar comes out - this one from the tower to the west. A massive crossbow bolt flies out, at Leeoli! Thankfully, the ever wary Leeoli is able to duck under the huge wooden projectile.
Smaranda steps up behind Gur and starts pummeling the fallen hound, hoping to put it down for good.
Leeoli decided not to squeeze past Gur, and instead pulls an extract of long arm from his wrist belt. Immediately, his arms drop to the ground, doubling their length, as he does so, Leeoli studies the troll intently.
Silas raises his holy symbol, the disk hanging from a chain on his left wrist.
He intones a Prayer to aid his friends and impair his enemies his grim tones promising the judgement of the afterlife.
your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.
Conjuring acid and flinging it into the reknitting wounds of the strange hounds to keep them reviving, Cassidia becomes aware of the approaching trolls kick goblins at them - an unusual tactic.
With both hands carefully gripping her sword she lets divine wrath flow through her to the blade and runs forward to join Gur in battling the trolls.
Rufus quaffs a vial, and a shimmering shield of force appears before him. He then moves towards the already crowded front entryway, his greatsword drawn.
As Cassidia, Silas, and Leeoli move into position to attack, Smaranda cooly reaches down to pound one of the hounds into oblivion.
Gur steps around the goblin and strikes at the actual threat.