The little goblin looks terribly confused as Gur seems to completely ignore it. He seems to feel the same way about the big man, and steps through the gate to swing his tiny sword at Smaranda in a no doubt ill-advised attack. The little fellow looks amazed that his sword somehow slashes across and draws blood.
Meanwhile, Gur slashes across with his axe, cutting deeply into one of the massive trolls!
The other goblins continue to cower, seemingly unafraid of being hurled at the invaders like their little companion.
Another shot does not come from the west tower - presumably due to the fact that reloading such a massive crossbow would take a while.
Meanwhile, the Trolls inside unleash their full fury on Gur!
Smaranda gives the goblin a pitying look as his sword makes a scratch on her thigh. "Get out of here," she growls, punctuating the suggestion with a knee to the chest.
She then jumps up, planting the left foot on the side of the gate as she launches herself through the air to land behind the goblin, her right foot aimed at the troll that Gur had injured.
Smaranda crushes the goblin's ribcage with her knee and leaps over. The goblin crumples to the ground and appears to be dying.
Smaranda's mighty attacks then slam into the troll - one a kick high to its midsection and then the next a leaping spin that catches the hunched over beast's jaw. The creature nearly staggers under the power of the blows, and lists to one side. It puts a hand out to steady itself on the wall, and shakes its head.
Brother Silas stands at the back, keeping up the sonorous droning of his Prayer spell.
Girl growls as he arcs his axe outward at the less charmed troll, trusting the others to deal with his injured foe.
Stepping on the dying Goblin, Leeoli reaches over Gur with elongated arms and slices at the Troll.
As the trolls rush Gur and force him to take the brunt of their wrath, Cassidia springs up and lashes out at the closest brute, using her agility to carve a deep gash in the trolls' flank.
Rufus moves over and hunches down next to the dog. You hear the shattering of a vial, and the dog bursts into flames, sending acrid smelling smoke up into the open air.
"Great lady of the Boneyard!!! Protect us and punish these who stand before your servant. Take their souls swiftly to their final resting place."
Cassidia looses a ball of acid at the trolls, but due to the chaos within the chamber, the blast flies wide of its mark!
As Silas continues his prayer, Gur and Leeoli both swing at the troll to the north of the orc, slamming it with attacks. Within an instant, the troll goes from unhurt to staggered, as the blows reign down upon it.
The trolls unleash their attacks again!
As the trolls take their attacks, you can see some of the wounds begin to heal! The goblins in the back are pounding at the rear gate at the back of the room, yelling out for something.
Smaranda nods at Gur, then starts pummeling the staggering troll. She didn't enjoy the violence, and she felt sorry for hitting that little goblin so hard, but she had to admit that it felt good to be part of a team fighting for a cause. And fighting quite effectively, one might add.
Smaranda slams her fists into the troll, and the acid from her fists seem to stop the things regeneration. It falls to the ground, its massive body sending up a cloud of dust and debris as it hits the ground!
Gur swings out at the still standing troll in an attempt to drop it and then steps slightly aside to allow the others to attack the goblins.
Silas keeps up his prayer .
"Blessings of Pharasma to all her allies and her wrath upon those who stand against us!"
As the trolls crumple to the ground and a space appears Cassidia lunges forward before the gap vanishes, sword raised high as she charges the goblins bursting out of the gates.
Cassidia slashes down and takes one of the goblins, cutting it along a vertical line nearly directly dead-center in its body. The little creature squeals out as it staggers, nearly falling over.
The troll hunches down to snap at Cassidia as she moves in, but it misses her darting form! Cassidia bypasses the great beast and slashes down, cutting one of the goblins across the chest with a wide gash. The creature nearly topples.
Gur moves in and slashes down, cutting down the massive troll, who slumps down and away, his massive body taking up much of the interior of the gatehouse.
"Does anyone understand what that goblin is babbling about?"
"I..I think they're surrendering." Cassidia guesses with a little confusion, then hardening points menacingly at the remaining goblins and shouts "Begone! Leave or die!"
The little goblin seems to understand, and looks at his companion, perhaps thinking whether he should help the fellow or not. He opts for not, and bolts out the front door, past you. His companion starts that way as well, dazedly walking as his blood leaves a grisly trail on the floor.
To the north, the heavy gate door unlatches, and begins to move...
Smaranda moves aside slightly to let the goblins pass, casting another glance at the body of the one she had killed, then turns to face whatever was coming through the gates.
As long as the goblins do not show themselves as a threat, Gur does no immediately kill them.
The goblins walk past you out into the open. Almost immediately, a massive crossbow flies out from the western tower and the injured goblin drops. The other one darts towards the woods.
Silas moves forward into the crowded gatehouse.
When the goblin is felled by the crossbow bolt he exclaims:
"More of them ... up in the tower!" he gestures with his mace to indicate the direction the crossbow bolt came from.
They may have scared the little goblins away, but that didn't mean they had won. There was no time to lose now, they were too exposed here. Glancing at the second troll, Smaranda notices that he was still alive and she punches him a couple of times to settle the matter.
As you are now all in the gatehouse, you take a look around. The exterior gates open on a broad chamber with a vaulted roof. Two large fires burn in the room, and spiral stairways climb up in each corner towards the ceiling. The gate on the far side of the room - to the north, looks like it had been barricaded at one time, but recently opened. At this point, said gate swings open, revealing a broad stone terrace with no rails at its edge. To the north, a stone bridge arches above a waterfall that drops into the river two hundred feet below.
Directly after the gatehouse doors open, the ugly visage of another troll hunches down to roar into the gatehouse, flinging spittle out. Behind it is another of the odd hounds. And, beyond it is another hound, seemingly very different - but this one just sits, staring in your direction.
Leeoli sprints forwards and sends an elongated arm to dice the troll.
Smaranda follows suit, ducks under the swinging arm of the troll to get inside its guard and sends two rapid kicks just below its right knee.
Gur moves in, then delivers a chop to the troll, even as the troll swipes at him in turn.
The troll's swipe flies wide, but Gur's axe does not - thudding into the troll's chest.
Leeoli and Smaranda batter the creature after Gur, hitting with foot and blade. Cassidia waits for an opening, but can't get into position.
The troll roars in rage, and swings wildly about, biting and clawing at Smaranda, then sending a backhand claw at Gur.
Rufus rushes out after the goblins, his eyes on their retreat and not on the guard tower from where the last bolt had come. After two steps, a bolt whistles in, and takes Rufus through the neck. The man spins, blood pouring from his neck in a fountain, then falls to the ground.
Not able to reach the enemy, Silas holds his action at the rear.
His prayer to Pharasma continues, aiding his allies and hindering his foes for another round.
The Trollhound does much the same, on the other side of the massive troll. Unable to get into the mix, it lets out a rattling cough of a bark, and watches, ribbons of drool falling from its open maw.
Meanwhile, Leeoli turns at the sound of Rufus falling. Rufus, no! He turns and charges out of the gatehouse towards his fallen friend, skidding the last few feet to fall to his knees at Rufus's side.
Focused on the massive troll in front of her, Smaranda does not notice the demise of one of their companions, or Leeoli's abrupt departure. Bleeding and bruised, Smaranda breathes in, then unleashes a storm of punches and kicks at the troll, grunting with each partial exhale.
"We're pinned! Smaranda, behind me!" Cassidia shouts as she watches the troll rage against her companion, planting her feet and holding her sword in front of her face as she mutters an indistinct mantra, her sword glowing hot, sputtering and then bursting into flame.
With a slight flourish she drops into a fighting stance of her own and stares down the troll to make herself the obvious target. "Come and get me you filthy beast!"
Gur's axe comes down once, then again, each hit taking off an arm. The troll falls in a mess of blood and gore. However, it does begin to form back together - an absolutely disgusting sight.
Beyond it, the hound snarls, trying to get into the fight. And, further along the bridge, you see another hound, though this one is different. It sits, staring at you, it's body made of what looks to be stitched together parts.
After Gur annihilates the troll, Smaranda skips across the fallen monster's body and leaps into a kick against the hound. The strike slams into the beast's nose, splitting it like a ripe tomato. The thing lets out a gargled howl in response.
Watching as both Smaranda and Gur cut down the troll and push forward instead, Cassidia glances back to Silas and nods once before rushing forward, her sword leaving a trail of sparks and heat as she moved to join Smaranda in destroying the strange beast.
Cassidia moves in and slashes down at the hound, her blade easily parting through the beast's upper front leg and nearly cutting the appendage off. The blood loss is too much for the canine, and it falls to the ground.
Just as the gatehouse gets silent, you hear another whistling shot and turn just in time to see it catch Leeoli in the arm. Gah! Damnit... He looks back to the gatehouse, as if in apology, and hefts Rufus and begins trudging away towards the woodline.
As his prayer ends, Brother Silas looks about the interior of the gatehouse.
Silas looks about the gatehouse, but there don't seem to be more enemies within it. This two story gatehouse is topped with a crenellated tower at each corner. The gates from the front enter into this broad chamber with a vaulted roof. There are torches burning in the room, and spiral stairways climbing up in each corner.
It looks like this inner gate had been barricaded at one time, as there are cots, tables, and other furniture stacked against it...but apparently hastily removed when the trouble - you - came calling. Silas finds two interesting things among the makeshift barricade - what looks like a uniform - man sized - blue trimmed with gray. There's no name tag, but it could be that this was one of the guards who originally guarded this place.
There's also a rather hideous amulet on the floor - it depicts a gagged skull.
Silas crouches and gestures to the skull amulet.
"This is the symbol of the Whispering Way." he says.
"They are an evil group that creates and venerates the undead."
"My goddess despises mortals who traffic in such things." then he spits in disgust.
Smaranda hisses at the mention of the Whispering Way.
"They were in Ravengro, too. They killed the professor. They were going to release the spirits of terrible people before we stopped them."
The pale girl glances back at the fallen troll and hound - down, but not out.
"Should take care of those before they get back up."
With her blade still radiating heat Cassidia wastes no time approaching the troll as it heals and slashes with her burning blade while the magic still remained.
Cassidia moves in and brings her blade down, systematically destroying the troll-blooded creatures. You look out at the bridge and lock...eyes...with this odd dog that looks like it was stitched together. It sits, watching you mildly, in the middle of the bridge.
Gur recognizes this...as he had to hurl one into a vat of chymical bleach in the city...a golem hound.