"Hrhm." Grundmoch responded after several seconds of breath-holding, unblinking stillness. "The gnolls know nothing of working below the ground, in caves and caverns. If you destroy them, then my people might succeed where the gnolls have failed. All is for Rovagug. Very well."
Looking at Yazi, the lizard-man spat "Rokova was...an ally to me. One of the few I could tolerate. It is hard for many of us to stand the sight of you disgusting smooth-skins. I had thought of keeping one of you as a warranty, to ensure you would not turn on us after killing the Carrion King, but I would not press insanity upon the newly hatched. You can only tell them so many times that what looks like meat is not meat."
"Rokova was different." the trog rumbled. "Agreeable without being subservient. Unique. Then, one day, he changed entirely. Called me a traitor, and the Carrion King threw us out. Only our numbers keep the gnolls from overrunning us. But," the chieftain said, a gleam in his eye, "without us, their work rediscovering the House of the Beast slows, halts. Yes. Rather than keeping one of you, I order you to save Rokova for me. I will see him, talk to him face to face, before he joins the Rough Beast." The chieftain's crest on top of his head slowly rises as he talks, and his muscles seem to bulge out of his scales, making the lizard-man seem inches taller. The shamans behind him avert their eyes in submissiveness, turning their heads away.
"Those terms sound agreeable to me. My freinds, do you agree?"
Khayal stands unblinkingly. He has nothing to say. He will not stand in the way of the deal. He would rather have their blood stain the ground then leave them standing, but now may not be the time.
"Then go." the chieftain says, dismissively raising a hand. He turned and went back up the staircase.
The lizard-man shaman that escorted you inside comes closer and looks unblinkingly at you, expecting you to leave.
Paige tosses a piece of dried trail rations to the monitor lizards as she leaves, watching them fight over it. So cute.
Bartan heads out with the group, and explains to Hajar once they exit what went down. "For now, we should leave them be, and they will do the same for us. If you must fight them, we can do so once the gnolls and the Carrion King are dispatched."
The shaman silently escorts you back outside. As you meet with Hajar, who is still engaged in a staring contest with the four lizard-men, the shaman hisses a command and the others go back inside the temple. They barricade the makeshift doors again, leaving you outside in the sun.
A blaring horn, similar to the one heard in the morning, is heard faintly away to the far east. The patrol must be returning.
Hajar shakes his head angrily, but stays sullenly silent. He gestures towards the Great Dome. He feels like killing Gnolls.
In a whirl of light Paige transforms into a weasel, and scooting along unseen, explores the way ahead for her friends.
The route is on the map. It would make sense to you...if you were a weasel.
So the weasel goes as only a weasel can, as your trail shows on the map. :) What you see as you get closer to the western entrance to the Great Dome is that the guard has been reduced from 6 to 2 gnolls, and they have not repaired the false steps going up to the double doors.
well that's just spiffy
And the weasel is totally unseen by the new gnolls.
Paige scurries back to her friends and in a whirl of mystical smoke becomes a human being once again. It looks like the guard has been reduced. Perhapse they are out on patrol in the desert looking for us! We have an opportunity now. We should storm the castle. I propose a ch'i/cheng maneuver. Let me and Khayal follow the line I just took as a weasel. When we get close enough we will distract them with spells and blades. The rest of you sneak around to the right (yellow line) with stealth. After you hear the sounds of battle, approach the enemy from the rear. They will not stand a chance!
Hajar nods I think perhaps I am not the best candidate to "sneak" anywhere. But I will do as you say Mistress Paige.
"With a sufficient distraction, anyone can 'sneak', Master Hajar. I agree with this plan. Let's go."
Sounds like a sound plan. Khayal says with a new found respect for the druid.
But just one suggestion, Hajar and I may be better suited for each other's roles. Hajar can call out to them with a pronouncement of divine justice, while I may be a little better at getting at around them unnoticed.
Good thinking Khayal. The sight of a Paladin of their sworn enemy coming out of the shadows would certainly strike additional fear into their hearts!
Khayal takes his time trying to stay out of sight. He steps on a pile of rocks and they make some noise, hopefully the gnolls are sufficiently distracted.
Bartan steps on Khayal's heels, and is distracted by the loud "oof" sound that Khayal makes as well.
Paige and Hajar start walking through the northern hole in the wall, with the rest of the adventurers going to the southern break in the wall.
Yazi follows the two men in her team, who apparently forgot that they were trying to sneak up on the western entrance to the Great Dome. Paige and Hajar walked more nonchalantly, readying themselves to face the gnolls on the steps.
These guys couldn't find a scarecrow in a cornfield...
Neither team has any problem walking right up to the steps themselves, since apparently the guards are either asleep or dumbfounded into inactivity.
Hajar casts a spell of Defense an then moves forward confidently, shielding Paige from harm as best he can. Once he gets close enough he shouts in Gnollish
Two figures, one on each side of the upper platform, give a start, one of them snarling back while the other shakes himself awake.
"Who-yawn-who dares defy the Carrion King and the, uh, House of the Beast?"
You hear them picking up weapons from the floor.
ROUND ONE:
Init:
Walking up toward the house Paige, standing behind Hajar, summons a giant ant to eat the servents of Rovu-whatzizname. THEN she says her bit about defying nature and whatnought.
You will not escape with your lives. The breath leaving your worthless bodies will feed the negative energy of the universe.
*chitter chitter* says the ant...
.....................MAP UPDATED.
Bartan follows Yazi fake-stealthily, but somehow doing better at being quiet than he had before.
Yazi continues to move up to the stairs, the gnolls scramble for their weapons, and Paige summons a giant ant.
Hajar moves forward, stepping over the poisoned traps....he has a bad experience with those.
Hajar double moves within 10" of the Gnolls.
Khayal sticks with Yazi trying to keep his approach hidden. cursing his luck as he steps on a stick sending out a loud creek.
Everyone jumps the stairs to the gnoll watchmen.
ROUND TWO
Init:
Bartan moves forward to the bottom of the stairs, Stealth forgotten at this point in mid-combat. He will take care to not step on the caltrops.
He then casts chill touch and tosses a card at the gnoll nearest him at the top of the stairs.
=>The Vision (Chaotic Neutral, Intelligence)
plus plus DC 13 Fort save or 1 Str damage
Khayal rushes up the stairs careful not hot step on the caltrops on his way up. His heart pounds with the joy of battle. Both kukris glisten in the sun.