Delnin advises he is comfortable with Stealth, perhaps he and Gozrek can lead the way. Gozrek for traps and Delnin to help watch his back.
Before heading out, Tess acquires the scroll Taranis found. She sets to the task of inscribing it to her spellbook using a set of special inks that she collects specifically for this purpose.
"I suggest we keep close together to I can use the magic I've prepared to make us invisible. I have several castings ready, which hopefully will help for us to get out as well."
Once everyone is close enough, and they are all close enough to their foe, she casts her spell and moves as quiet as she can.
Taranis takes Toth in hand and wildshapes into an owl for the infiltration. He doesn't worry about staying within the sphere given his disguise.
Gozrek nods to Delnin, agreeing to the plan:
Due to Lobo’s size, the ranger also uses a spell of Carry Companion on the wolf.
The halfling has little trouble with stealth
Navigating between the dispersed encampments is relatively easy in the dark, and Tess is careful to time her spell for getting through the most well-lit paths among the hills.
<--additional +2 in unclaimed wilderness or controlled land!
With the need for stealth, Bytor also casts Invisibility Sphere and offers to bring anyone else along who needs it.
Augrym casts Invisibility on himself (has a few available to himself.
The night is long, weaving between camps in the hills, huddling together for a short spell when a patrol passes by and finding what cover you can when new logs are added to the bonfires. As the first hints of dawn begin to creep over the horizon in the east, you descend into the box canyon where Gozrek once met his end.
The camp is much as you left it, nestled against a cliffside at the edge of a stand of elms by a small stream. Tent flaps flutter in the light breeze, some now broken free of their bolt-ropes, and the bodies you felled here have been picked over by scavengers and left to the elements. The vast metal cage where Tamary and her fellows were kept creaks in the wind. Clearly, no one has come to check on those who waited here.
The darkened cave mouth, notched in the cliff, beckons to you.
"We all remember what happened last time." Taranis looks at Gozrek first, then the others, then back to Gozrek. "If you have spells that will last more than a handful of minutes that will help, I'd recommend doing it now. We MUST be prepared against Confusion first. Ready?"
Tess and Delnin exchange a quizzical glance.
"The 'confusion'? Can you maybe enlighten Delnin and I on what we're stepping into here?"
"When we last tried this assault we were assailed by fiends. I'm not entirely sure what they were, but when we got into proximity with them they had an unnerving ability to addle our minds to the point where we could not tell friend from foe. Girding our willings from outside influence could mean the difference between life and-" Taranis looks at Gozrek, "-death."
The Duke looks at Tess, "Do you have a magical means of shielding our minds?"
Unrak rumbles if I remember right, they summoned fiends who messed us up, didn't they? Maybe being ready to dispel their summons is a good option too.
"When we last tried this assault we were assailed by fiends. I'm not entirely sure what they were, but when we got into proximity with them they had an unnerving ability to addle our minds to the point where we could not tell friend from foe. Girding our willings from outside influence could mean the difference between life and-" Taranis looks at Gozrek, "-death."
The Duke looks at Tess, "Do you have a magical means of shielding our minds?"
The halflfing doesnt like thinking about how low his Will save is, but then be remembers his “halflfing luck’ and decides it should be fine.
Tess considers the problem. "Mind magic is not the sort of thing I dabble in. It seems the best thing to do is to keep our distance. Can you describe them in more detail? Notable features, sounds, smells... anything you recall will help. I might have read a thing or two about them."
Tess cannot make heads or tails of the description the others supply. The best she can tell is that the foes in question are human, or at least humanoid.
The help these foes summoned last time, however, sound like babau demons.
" What you're describing sounds like a babau demon. I'm not sure the confusion magic stems from them, but I think we can handle it."
"No time like the present. Let's move quickly." She casts a spell, erecting an invisible shield, then moves into the chamber.
Nodding, Taranis retrieves Toth, and heads in, his eyes still on Gozrek...
....Until I slip into the darkness
Unrak takes some metallic powder from a pouch, mutters some incantation, and throws it over his head. It settles onto his skin in a protective coating. He draws his great sword and heads in just in front of his brother.
Bytor follows along near the back of the party with his bow drawn. His palms are sweaty as he grasps his bow thinking about their upcoming confrontation with babau.
The halfling casts Long Strider to help make up for his short legs.
He very quietly whispers to Tess (and the group) if we encounter these Baboon Demons should I use cold iron or alchemical silver arrows?
Before venturing forward, he slips into the shadows w/ strung bow and arrow ready. Stealth
"Cold iron for demons. Silver for devils. These are demons."
"Cold iron for demons. Silver for devils. These are demons."
The ranger gives a nod.
Babau have a knack for finding mortals' pain point---their blades often cut where it will hurt the most. Babau are unfazed by electric shocks or poisoned darts, and seem to shrug off fire, cold, and acid pretty easily too.
After some discussion and a bout of spellcasting, the Huntsmen head into the narrow defile in the cliff face. The tight passageway is carved from pale stone heavy with iron ore that mars the walls, floor, and ceiling with streaks of oxidized brown, not unlike long dead flesh caked in dried blood.
Ahead, three alabaster statues stand along the western wall of the large square chamber. The statues depict well-proportioned Kellid men, each set in a different war-like pose. Attentive to your presence---almost as if they were watching you somehow---are two hooded figures in black robes adorned with dozens of bloodshot glass eyes, standing shoulder to shoulder along the opposite wall. Two emaciated figures, like horned skeletons in a bone-tight hide of slimy leather, seem to rise through the stone floor as you arrive, each gripping a long spear.
+2 if Surprise
+2 if Surprise
Round I
1. Gozrek, Augrym, Unrak, Delnin, Bytor
2. Sisters, Demons
3. Taranis, Tess
Bytor immediately begins with inspire courage and a casting of Haste!
"These demons need banished, boys! Excuse me, and ladies! I think we need to send them back from whence they came!"
With an appreciative, predatory grin at Bytor's bolstering magic and words, Unrak charges into the room. In case the demons have good reflexes, he only passes by one of them as he places himself in front of the two figures, sword held aloft--waiting for The Opportune Moment!! And only then does he roar in eager rage.
Move, ready action to interrupt a spell WITH MY SWORD, then rage.
Conditions:
AC: 29 (Ironskin, +5 AC; Haste, +1 AC/Ref) (note: AC is 31 vs. any AoOs this round's movement caused)
Hit/Dam +3/+2 (haste + bard)
Indeed, the demon Unrak passes by flashes out with its spear, finding a lucky chink in the big man's hardened hide.
HIT
The greater danger lies beyond, however. As he gets near, Unrak gets an all-too-familiar feeling as he charges towards the two figures' inscrutable, befuddling visages.
Round I
1. Gozrek, Augrym, Unrak (Willx2 105/115 hp), Delnin, Bytor
2. Sisters, Demons
3. Taranis, Tess
The ranger quickly starts moving. He feels the familiar buzzing energetic feeling of the Haste enchantment. Delnin buttonhooks to the right of the doorway and hugs the wall. He curses under his breath as he starts to raise his bow but realizes he hasn't brought Lobo out from his mini stone form. With hasted speed he sets the small wolf on the floor and whispers the command.
Invisible, Gozrek inches forward with his WAND OF PROTECTION FROM EVIL out. He then casts it on himself.
Augrym adds Bane to his weapon, narrows his eye to study his targets, and aims his wrist crossbow at the demon between him and Unrak.
Delnin gives a worried look at Unrak
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Delnin gives a worried look at Unrak
on the bright side..."attack nearest foe" will still be a good option...