GM Rat Sass's Legacy of Fire (Inactive)

Game Master GM Rat Sass

Oblivious to the Aldebert, the king focuses his attacks on Otah, but the sturdier dwarf holds against the strikes. Meanwhile a second, much smaller gnoll comes up behind the king - wand outstretched toward the king.

Goreshred @ Otah: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 15 + 1 = 20, (miss); Goreshred @ Otah: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21, (miss).

Round Twelve: Pent, Aldebert, and Otah now acting.

Round 12, Init 11

The gnome breathily blabs with the air elemental.

The elemental continues its assault on the Big Dog, then steadily moves around it, trying to draw an attack that might target the halfling instead. Deliberately trying to provoke an AoO...

Slam Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage

"As for you-- never say I never gave you nothing. If you attack, you'll be seen-- you can heal and call other creatures though..."

Pent looks up at Mahdi, as the magic ripples over him. His understanding comes a moment too late, as his beard parts to show a huge, toothy grin. The Vanish spares Mahdi the sight of tears welling up in the gnome's eyes in gratitude. "You mean... I can't be seeeeeen? reeeeeeally???" He makes a lewd gesture to stimulate a change in facial expression, then realizes his folly, since Mahdi's face always registers disdain when he looks at it, so his test fails to yield any substantial results.

The Vanish also prevents the little gnome from saluting the little gnoll currently healing his Big Dog. He yells out instead.

Pent decides it's proper to keep his Wall up and at 'em. He clenches, hoping to shore up Aldebert's wounds, and give him a chance to finish what he started.

Channel Energy, No no Gnolls: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 6) = 14
Chance of Emission? Low's a go...: 1d10 ⇒ 1

For some reason that surprises even Pent, his fart assumes a new characteristic- Silent but Deadly. It's almost as if Mahdi's magic cloaks both Pent and his Poot. Pent retreats, not from the fury in front of him, but from his own fumes.

"Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"

Round 12, Initiative 7

"That's right you giant sod, hit me!"

Otah continues to berate the gnoll king as he lashes out yet again, hoping to be more harmful than the second gnoll is helpful to his master.

Horsechopper: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 for: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

"Somebody better deal with his friend."

Both the attacks of the elemental and Otah's swing miss. The king chuckles. He then swings at the elemental before closing on the dwarf.

"Soon your corpse will smell like your small friend dwarf."

Goreshred AoO @ elemental: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 1 = 30, dmg: 2d6 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (4, 6) + 16 + 1 = 27 (27 damage to the elemental. Does it have DR or otherwise survive?)

Round 13: Mahdi, and Ami (w/ yeen) now acting.

Ah piddlespot it. Who wants to live forever?

Round 13, Init 20

Ami uses the distraction from the elemental to ride Yeen around the King Jerk and into flank.

1d20 + 8 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 1 + 2 = 21 to hit; (-str,+flank)
1d6 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 1 = 7 damage.

Yeen:
1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17 to hit; (bite)
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 damage.

Round: 12, Initiative: 8

Gretiem continues to press his attack, biting the King with all his might!
Gretiem Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 19 (flank) damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9

Aldebert reaches out for his guisarme, and hesitates, withdrawing his hand at the last moment and grabbing his hammer instead (move action - provokes, but only if the guy has combat reflexes (feat) or the like). He then stands up (move action - provokes, but only if the guy has combat reflexes (feat) or the like).

Round 13, Init 28

"Damnation! Can we not drop this brute!" Mahdi swears, and again shakes the stick in his hand, trying to coax out more monsters. He takes a nervous step backwards from the Carrion King.

5-ft step and start another full-round summons.

Though Ami manages to land a strike, the biting of the companions proves of little help. The king's series of strikes knocks Otah the life from him, but his armor repels the kings savage bite.

Spoiler actions go off. 46 total damage to Otah, which drops him to -6 at the highest or -11 at the lowest. May need to double check as I don't recall Otah being hit recently so I'm not sure where the hp loss that is on his character sheet is from. For now I'm treating Otah as being at -6 hp.

Round 13: Pent, Aldebert, and Otah now acting. (Assuming possible healing that may give Otah the chance to act. For now he is prone, but conscious.)

Round 13, Initiative 7

Assuming he doesn't wake up before his turn:
Stabilization Check vs DC 21: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

I keep Otah's HP accurate. He took some damage from the Mahdi's fire jet (I consented! :) and the 1 point of heal from Pent's muffled poot. Otah is at -11, and will be at -12 and require a natural 20 to save after this turn.

Round 13, Init

1 point of heal??? Pent's Poots are far more Potent than 1 point of heal... that math sounds fuzzy- Pent has been rolling out waves of Channel Energy (slowly coming to an end, by the by, good thing he has Extra Channeling) here for 11, here for 9, here for 13, and here for 14...

"Uh, hey, guys... you keep falling over like that and there'll be nothing standing between me and that beast..." Pent whispers to the frontline from his Vanish.

The gnome keeps rolling out the healing energies, hoping for the best...

Channel Energy, No no Rollie Pollie, and Gnolls: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 3) = 12
Chance of Emission? Low's a go...: 1d10 ⇒ 10

Two Channels left, folks...

Pent is correct. Although Otah suffered 4 points of damage from the fire, he was healed back to max HP. Otah was at -6 HP after the king's attacks. With the recent heal Otah is now at +6 HP (still prone).

Round 13: Aldebert, and Otah now acting.

Round: 13, Initiative: 8

Gretiem continues to press his attack, biting the King with all his might!
Gretiem Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24 (flank) damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Aldebert steps up to protect Otah (5’ step no AoO) and swings as well, trying to feel the mighty Gnoll like a tree.
Hammer (magic): 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 4 = 27 (smite, flank) damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 5 = 18 (smite, bypass all DR)

"You have no future here dog!"

I see my brother failed to move on the map, but I think he's behind the King. If that's not the case, -2 from each attack as I don't have flank.

"Hey... tap him again, just like that... don't wait for him to hit you again, because he mauls you every time... like you were nothing but pre-shredded wheat... so, just, you know, hit him again..." The gnome makes a motion to shoo the halfling into another blow, but it goes unnoticed...

Ami said he was moving into flank. So the +2 is good.

Aldebert's sudden hit slams into the king just after Gretim's bite sinks into his armor. It's as if he finally realizes that the gnome isn't dead after all. Wounds that looked to have otherwise closed up suddenly reopen. Though he still stands, it is clear the king is at the brink.

Round 13: Otah now acting.

Thanks Pent, I misread your Channel/poot thing when you healed for 14.

Round 13, Initiative 7
Otah's eyes open from the ground. "ugh... thanks." Grabbing his horsechopper, he stands up.

Two move actions. I'm not sure if standing provokes from behind the halfling, but if it provokes, he has a +4 to his AC for it. (27)

If Otah is standing behind the halfling then no, there won't be an AoO.

"ugh... thanks."

"oooo don't thank me now... thank me once the dog is dead... you're lookin' as bad as he is, and he's lookin' like he's fixin' to pay you two back for all the damage you done to him... I could be wrong about that, but I highly doubt it... I'm starting to think Sarah's getting tired listening to me callin' her for healing... I'm thinking you only have one more chance to put it down, or down you go again..."

Round 14: Mahdi and Ami (w/ yeen) now acting.

Still a bit unclear on positioning. If everyone could take a moment to double check Roll20 that would be greatly appreciated. I've moved Ami, but feel free to tweak positioning. Also, king has shading to make clear the space he takes up. Should be set to go.

Confuzzled. I'm mostly sure that I moved Ami to flank two days ago. However, yesterday I *definitely* moved Ami to flank on Roll20. If you had to move him there again, GM Lareg, I weep and can't explain it...unless gnomes have gotten into the system.

Round 14, Init 20

Ami:
1d20 + 8 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 1 + 2 = 17 to hit; (slingstaff, -str,+flank)
1d6 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 1 = 7 damage.

Yeen:
1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10 to hit; (bite)
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 damage.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11 to hit; (claw)
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 damage.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 2 = 26 to hit; (claw)
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 damage.

Round 14, Init 28

Mahdi's wand-shaking manifests in a small, quasi-shapeless blob of flesh, like a parody of a human, that appears next to the Carrion King. Mahdi makes a face at it.

"...well, whatever works, I suppose," he mutters. "Get around the big one and attack!" he shouts, gesturing with the stick to punctuate his commands.

The summoned lemure wobbles into position (5-foots into the flank) and swings with tiny claws protruding from its grotesque form.

Lemure claw 1, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 2 = 16
Lemure claw 2, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 2 = 18 Doubt either hits, but if they do...
Damage 1: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Damage 2: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"Useless stick," Mahdi growls, and trots a few feet forward again. He has a momentarily clear line for his fire jet...

DC 16 Reflex for half: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Fire damage next round if failed save: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Although Ami's projectiles bounce harmlessly off the surface of the king's armor, Yeen's clawing manages to find its way to exposed flesh. Flesh which has already begun to burn from the fire of Mahdi's outstretched hand. Letting lose a mighty roar, the king defies the flame and blood wracking his body and soaking the floor beneath him. He lashes out at Ami while the nearby gnoll points its wand toward the king.

I realized there was no token for the other gnoll. Sorry about that. If anyone wishes to retcon actions accordingly post away. I know the presence of the other gnoll was mentioned in PbP. I'll amend the actions accordingly.

Ref (king): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Goreshred@Ami: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 15 + 1 = 29, dmg: 2d6 + 16 ⇒ (4, 4) + 16 = 24 Goreshred@Ami: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 = 14 (miss) and
bite@Ami: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 1 = 29, dmg: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 3) + 5 = 11 (35 damage for Ami. 0 hp exactly then?)

Round 14: Pent, Aldebert, and Otah now acting.

Actually Mahdi, Gretiem is in your way, but please shoot anyway!! I failed to add him to the map - my bad. He's on there now.

Gretiem Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

No worries GM Lareg, we'd be focused on the King I think. I do not know what Constitution 'core' means either. That's a new one on me.

Round: 14, Initiative: 8

Gretiem looks over his shoulder at Mahdi as his scales singe a bit (-4hp), but he regains his focus and presses the carrion king.
Gretiem Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 = 27 (flank) damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Even if the king goes down - Aldebert swings.
Aldebert, eyes burning with sweat and blood, swings mightily trying to end the kings brutal reign!
Hammer (magic): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 = 16 (smite) damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 5 = 15 (smite, bypass all DR)

sigh...

Round 14, Init 11

Pent watches as the Big Dog launches into Ami's haunches, ripping and ripping again. "Whoa, what would three-for-three have looked like?? That's all too painful-looking, painful for me to look at..." The gnome puckers his mouth, picturing the Carrion King doing the same, and blowing the half down, so precarious is his life at this moment.

He clenches for the second-to-last time, his buttocks growing numb from the effort.

Channel Energy, No no Gnolls: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 4) = 11
Chance of Emission? Low's a go...: 1d10 ⇒ 1

For the second time this battle, possibly encouraged by his invisibility, Pent lets another poot loose. Again, Silent, but Deadly. "I can not for the life of me remember what I ate that smelled that bad going in, as it does coming out... I'm not so sure I can keep my underwear clean if I have to channel one more time..."

Roaring loader as Gretiem bites into him, the king seems to be held up by anger alone as blood continues to soak the ground at his feat.

Round 14: Otah now acting.

Round 15: Mahdi and Ami (w/ yeen) now acting.

I'm assuming for the brief moment that Ami is at 0 hp that he could have fallen from Yeen. Of course, I think Yeen could have also balanced his charge's unconscious body to keep him falling. I'm not sure what sort of rule might support this. I'm open to suggestions. For now I'd say a Reflex save on Yeen's part would make sense.

At zero hp, one is merely staggered, not down. If I wasn't healed 11 and I took a standard action, I would lose one hp and go negative.

Round 15, Init 20

Ami reels from the blows from the Carrion King, but keeps in his saddle until Pent's poots healing washes over him.

He takes a moment to heal himself before nuzzling Yeen to take out the last gnoll.

He casts defensively: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 vs. DC 19
2d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 1) + 5 = 8 CMW

Yeen:
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 to hit; (bite)
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 damage.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 to hit; (claw)
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 damage.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 to hit; (claw)
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 damage.

Round 14, Initiative 7

Why is that terrible odor so invigorating?! is a thought that floats through Otah's mind as he steps out from behind Aldebert to attack the giant gnoll.

I can't tell what square Gretiem is supposed to be in. The word looks like a label, which are a square off from the minis, but I don't see an actual picture. I'm not familiar if Gretiem has reach or not either.. Otah should be able to step into the square behind him if he does not.

Horsechopper through cover: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 = 21 +2 if Otah can also take advantage of the flank for: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

As Gretiem bites at the gnoll, Otah uses him as a distraction to obscure a fast lunge at the beast.

I think once Aldebert was down Gretim was separate and taking up a space. So reach it is.

Otah's strike nearly makes it through the kings armor, but not quite. Yeen's bite sinks through, while her clawing is blunted. The king continues to roar. Though standing, it is clear he won't be able to fight as well as he has been. His fellow desperately grasps on to his wand.

Round 15: Mahdi now acting.

Round 15, Init 28

Mahdi holds his breath as he watches the king take blow after blow and yet continue to stand. Surely the brute cannot take much more punishment!

The ignored, tiny blobby devil continues to attack.

Lemure claw 1, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 = 11
Lemure claw 1, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24 Woo, a 20!
Confirm (I wish)?: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 = 15 Unlikely
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

"Ha!" Mahdi shouts triumphantly as his little devil manages, mostly via pure luck, to score a hit. "That gnoll next to him keeps healing him-- perhaps I can try and attack him..."

He takes a step to the side, leaning out over the edge of the walkway, and sends his last ray of fire tearing down over the little gnoll.

I can aim a line from the corner of my square, so it won't hit Alde. Last fire jet of the day, versus baby gnoll:

dc 16 reflex for half damage and not on fire: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
On fire next round: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"You!" Mahdi shouts, pointing at the gnoll, and shouting in Gnoll as well. "Flee while you can! If you heal him once more, I will personally hunt you to the ends of the earth and burn the flesh from your bones in a slow smolder!"

The gnoll falls to the ground, dead instantly from the fire. Its corpse continues to burn. As the king is struck by the lemure claw he continues to howl. As he cleaves at the new attacker and Ami, it is clear his ability to fight has been impacted.

Ref (gnoll): 1d20 ⇒ 5

Cleave, Goreshred@Lemure: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20, dmg: 2d6 + 16 ⇒ (3, 1) + 16 = 20; (20 dmg, Fatal dmg to Lemure)
Cleave, Goreshred@Ami: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20, dmg: 2d6 + 16 ⇒ (4, 6) + 16 = 26 (26 dmg to Ami. I think I'm missing some math. Ami was at 0 hp, healed for 11 by Pent, and 8 by his own casting. That should be 19 hp, but I'm seeing 31 hp in the status. What did I miss?)

Round 15: Pent, Aldebert, and Otah now acting.

Round: 15, Initiative: 8

Gretiem looks to Aldebert wondering why his soldier hasn’t mounted yet, but he continues to press his attacks on the carrion king
Gretiem Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 2 = 20 (flank) damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8

Even if the king goes down - Aldebert swings.

Aldebert, fearful for his brother - knowing the kind of punishment the king can deal - swings ever harder to end him.
Hammer (magic): 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 4 = 17 (flank, smite) damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 5 = 14 (smite, bypass all DR)

Seriously?! I can't hit anything all of a sudden!

”Brother!”

Round 15, Initiative 7

Horsechopper (-2 cover, +2 flank): 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 + 2 = 20for: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"Out of the way, noble steed!" mutters Otah as he tries to search for openings at the gnoll through Gretiem's attacks.

Round 15, Init 11

Pent continues to watch the savagery unfold. A lemure unhinges, then a gnoll singes, then a halfling cringes... While the Big Dog still stands!!

"Tha-tis-sun-real... it should be dead two times over, and yet it has the will to deny even death?! Come on already and pass on! We're about to pass out over here..."

The gnome clenches for the last time today. His weakened state produces the weakest energy surge of them all.

Channel Energy, No no Gnoll: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 2) = 8
Chance of Emission? Low's a go...: 1d10 ⇒ 1

And just like that, Pent poots for the third time. It sounds like a tomato being squished. "Hoo... greased my cheeks... that's it... I'm done..."

(What did I miss?)

I use my spoilered combat status for my hp during fights. To update the status after every hp change is too difficult as I often post from phone...and even then most of my posts are updates from template. So my hp in my spoilered status is, indeed, 19/33. And now he is at -7.

Ami slumps in his saddle.

The king looks surprised as he yet stands. Each strike seems to nearly penetrate his armor, but luck seems to be in his favor. He eye's the bringer of fire watching to see if his luck holds out for another swing.

Round 16: Mahdi and Ami (w/ yeen) now acting. (Pent's heal puts Ami @ 1 hp)

Round 16, Init 28

Any glee Mahdi might have felt at dropping the sidekick gnoll fades as he realizes they are still, desperately, in battle for their lives. He is out of spells, out of jets of flame... his colleagues are badly wounded...

He still has his stick but it takes so damned long to use... not seeing a better option, Mahdi frantically shakes the wand some more, hoping something more USEFUL than his eagles or lemure appears this time.

5-foot step back, start full round summons

Round 16, Init 20

Ami, realizes that he will happily die if he can take the King with him. Looking at his trusty halfling staff on the ground (fallen when he had momentarily blacked out), Ami draws a cold iron dagger and tries to finish the King with Yeen's help.

Ami:
1d20 + 6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 1 + 2 = 19 to hit; (dagger, -str,+flank)
1d4 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 - 1 = 5 damage.

Yeen:
1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21 to hit; (bite,flank)
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 damage.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17 to hit; (claw)
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 damage.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24 to hit; (claw)
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 damage.

As dagger and a series of claws fail to hit the king he seems to lean in, readying another strike. But just as he begins to smile Yeen's powerful claws sink through his armor at last. The beast collapses to the ground. As he does you hear clapping from the colums near the middle of the room. One last gnoll seems to have been lurking in the shadows - watching you kill the king. He speaks as he reveals himself. Dressed in dark leathers with a dagger in hand, he quickly stows it in his boot. He does not approach further than the columns - keeps his hands visible.

"Well done. I'd 'ave killed the brute myself if I didn't know he'd crush my skull with a single hand."

Ami delights in the beast's death, ignoring the voice from behind.

Yeen similarly delights in tearing out the beast's neck...and then beginning to claw away the beast's face and flesh.

Ami watches, breathing deep and silently urging his cat on.

Aldebert wipes his brow and watches his brother and Yeen eviscerate the king. He smiles, happy to see him still standing.

Oh hearing the gnoll, he carefully gathers his guisarme and mounts Gretiem.

He looks at the newcomer and weighs his options, quenching his bloodlust for the moment, "Well done? So you share no love of your own kind?"

Pent debates closing distance on the gnoll, and commanding it to lay down like a good dog... his eyes pass over his crew, and he decides better.

The gnome angles behind Ami, and smacks him quickly, uneasy that they are still facing another gnoll. A gnoll that doesn't appear at all uneasy with them.

Converting Command to CLW

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

As the Vanish leaves him, Pent stands next to Ami, morningstar in hand.

"You opportunistic gadfly!! You yellow mangy cur!! You snarl-toothed fleabag!! You two-should-be-four-legs!! You ball-licking bandicoot!! You arse-smelling arrogant mutt!!"

Pent pulls up as he hears Aldebert chime in. "You trying to talk with it??? We just took down an ungodsly bear of a gnoll, and this one is approaching us in admiration, instead of pissing itself and approaching us in supplicating submission!!! This... is... not... right!!!"

The gnome adjusts his pants uncomfortably, and quivers, but doesn't advance any further, as he readies to convert Sarah's Blessings into more healing energies.

Though initially calm, he gestures angrily toward the corpse of the king as he speaks. And likewise gestures at the rotting worm.

"There was I time that I did. But that - that is not the brother that I swore to serve. That thing - did something to him. Listening and then nodding at Pent. Say I did as you've described. What I have to say would mean so very little. I grovel and then proclaim my hatred for that creature. There would be no reason to believe me."

Aldebert thinks a moment, shakes his head to clear it, and thinks some more.

"Look, your king was a gnoll, and we're opposed to your kind on general principle. You raid our towns and villages, hassle our trade routes, and generally cause all manner of trouble for our burgeoning civilization."

"For that we are enemies." he hefts his hammer, but makes no move toward the gnoll.

"It is our intention to clear this entire nest. What do you have to say about that? You're an oddity. I've never spoken to a gnoll before who wasn't pleading for his life."

Ami finishes drooling and catching his breath, picking up his halfling slingstaff and sheathing his dagger.

He gives a deep head bow to the gnome, a thanks for the healing.

He casts his own healing spell to add to Pent's, trying to recover the strength needed to fight their way out of the area.

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 CLW

He spins on the dais, turning Yeen to face the new threat. They move slowly to stand next to Aldebert, their spokesman. Yeen lets out a low growl at the gnoll.

"I know better than to beg. I have a bargain in mind. The king's death will bring chaos. All the others will come. I can bring them together. Make them think the king was killed by the worm. He spits on the ground - toward the dead worm. I will move them from this place. Away from your civilization as you call it. I ask only three things. That I may live. That you find out what lies below. And if there are things of value that we divide them." The gnoll points to the passage below the throne that was revealed by the king.

"And if there are things of value that we divide them."

Ami looks at his brother's eyes, flashing with anger.

Mahdi sags when the king at long last falls, but his relief is short-lived-- another gnollish voice intrudes, and he wheels with a dark glare.

"Like all your kind you're a scavenger," he says shortly. "Waiting for a battle to decide itself, before coming in to claim you were on the victor's side all along. And if it had gone a little worse for us, I imagine that dagger of yours would have helpfully found its way into one of our spines. I have sworn to kill as many of your kind as I might, and I am not the only one among our number who has done so, I think. So best you speak quickly and well as to why we should treat you any exception to the rest of your foul slaver kin. Who are you? What do you want? What have you to trade for your life?"

He goes to pick up the dropped gnoll-wand as he speaks.

"I ask only three things. That I may live. That you find out what lies below. And if there are things of value that we divide them."

Pent listens to Aldebert and Mahdi speaking truths and pronouncements, and settles down a bit from his initial outburst.

"'What lies below'? We're not pillagers, Mr. Gnoll. We're the cleansing light of Sarah, and buildings like this keep the light from reaching its depths, where evil festers, like that worm there. Would that I had the power to bring all the walls down, we'd have no more House of the Beast, Beast. What lies below are geckomen and rockfiredeath. That's where we came up. What do you suppose lies below, and why aren't you motivated enough to go below yourself? Now, if you're suggesting that there are magics and weapons that may fall into the paws of pesky gnolls, should we walk away, that's another thing altogether. We'd be disarming your flea-ridden infantry, not pillaging at all..."

Pent converts another blessing into healing, and taps Ami, never once taking eyes off the gnoll. Convert Summon I to CLW

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Bleh, too late to edit my post, but I didn't realize the gnoll had already answered some of Mahdi's questions when I posted. Sorry. Just pretend his post came BEFORE those answers. ;)