Heroes of Gafolweed (Inactive)

Game Master CWalk89

Gerund takes a couple of cautious steps towards the statue.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Well, normally I could tell ya a bit about stonework - maybe figure something important outta this statue. But I tell ya, lads - I'm at a loss."

The dwarf takes hold of his holy symbol in one hand as he draws his warhammer with the other.

"Best to be ready. I don't like the feel of this place."

Aranmon will cast Detect Magic.

Twiggy Down

Aranmon does not detect any magic in the vicinity of Twiggy Down.

Buvet approaches the statue alongside his dwarven brother, crouching to better examine the fragments of it on the ground. The statue appears to be made of granite and was once probably about the size of a horse. Some of the weather-beaten pieces are still recognizable - two long-clawed paws, a dragon-like wing, a disfigured human face, and what looks like the bulbous, stud-riddled head of a mace.

Buvet has already failed his Perception check. Gerund may make another one if he likes.

Gerund stashes his warhammer and kneels down closer, trying to better examine the statue.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

"Ha-Ha! There's an inscription here." The old dwarf excitedly points at words engraved on the side of the pedestal. Says here, 'May this evil idol lie forever in the dirt and may sunlight overcome hard words.' Heh, wonder what that could mean?"

He glances around at the strewn pieces of the statue, "Well, someone tried to keep this statue from seeing the light of day, that's for certain."

Aranmon takes a long hard look at the pieces scattered about. "It looks as though this may have once been a statue of the Sturgimate that the old man had been talking about.

Twiggy Down

"Aye," Buvet chimes in, "I'd say time's the most likely culprit. If that statue were around when the Sturgimates were last seen, its older than you and I combined, brother."

Stirred by the party's loud conversation and the hunger pangs turning their stomachs, three gnolls emerge from the brush and ruins on the far of the abandoned village. They wear piecemeal leather armor and each carries makeshift quiver of crude javelins.

Kalvin
Aranmon
Buvet
Gnoll 1
Gnoll 2
Gnoll 3
Gerund

Kalvin, because you spent your time looking out for trouble, you may take an additional action this round (as if acting in a surprise round and then taking your turn).

Also, that tree on the map has fallen down, so crossing it counts as rough terrain (1/2 movement), but it provides no cover to those behind it.

"Well this probably won't end well." Aranmon will cast mage armor on himself raising his AC to 16.

Seeing the Gnolls emerge from the bushes Kalvin looses an arrow at the northern most Gnoll. "Guys we have company." After notifying the group of the gnolls, Kalvin lets another arrow fly from his shortbow. Not liking the feel of the bow in his hands he drops the weapon and draws his great axe, ready for the gnolls attack.

Twiggy Down

Buvet draws his warhammer and rushes toward the bonfire.

"Come on and get me you wretched mutts!" he blusters.

Kalvin's first shot meets it mark, and the first of the gnolls lets out a yelp as an arrow pierces its shoulder.

All three gnolls rush forward around the bonfire, drawing crude javelins from their quivers. The injured feebly tosses its weapon at Kalvin, barely managing to lift its arm high enough to get the javelin airborne. The other two gnolls meet Buvet's challenge and fling javelins at the dwarf. He manages to sidestep the first, but catches the second in the leg (for 5 damage).

"Arrgh," Buvet shouts through gritted teeth. "You'll pay for that!"

Kalvin
Aranmon
Buvet (4/9 HP)
Gnoll 1 (-6 HP)
Gnoll 2
Gnoll 3
Gerund

Aranmon will move next to Kalvin and cast Acid dart at the Gnoll straight in front of him.
Acid dart: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
And I think I just burned a hole in the ground at my feet.
Aranmom's move

Gerund quickly draws his warhammer and stalks his way carefully towards the gnome to the party's right.

Map Update

Kalvin charges into the pack of Gnolls trying to cleave heads off the beasts with his greataxe.

MAP

Well since it appears that both of my partners have thwarted my previous post I will have to do a redo, but I am not at work so I will need someone to move me please.

Aranmon will move so he is inline with both the statue and the southern most gnoll (down 4, right 2) and attack that gnoll with acid dart.
Acid dart: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Acid damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Twiggy Down

Buvet dashes around the bonfire to get closer to the first, most injured gnoll, hoping to land a killing blow with his beloved warhammer.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Down you go, dog!" the dwarf shouts as he lands a severe blow to the beast's head.

Seeing their first companion hit the dirt, the other two gnolls snap into action. The remaining gnoll closest to Kalvin moves to keep the bonfire between them and flings another javelin in his direction, but ends up falling far off the mark. The final gnoll charges at Aranmon, brandishing a spear as he goes for a powerful attack. It manages to land a piercing blow to the elven wizard (for 7 damage).

Kalvin
Aranmon (1/8 HP)
Buvet (4/9 HP)
Gnoll 1 (DEAD)
Gnoll 2
Gnoll 3
Gerund

"Aranmon! I failed you," Gerund laments as he shuffles across the camp to try and help the elf.

Move S, SW, S (unable to use the map at the moment)

Gerund swings his warhammer at the gnoll.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Sigh.

Kalvin moves to flank the Gnoll attacking the wizard.

Aranmon whips out his long stick and proceeds to swing it at the gnoll who attacked him.
Attack roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
And Aranmon is proving why he is more of a distance person then a melee person, not that distance seems to be helping him so far.

Twiggy Down

I updated the map.

Well if that's the case I get to add to to my attack roll and what do you know I still missed. This dice roller hates me.

Twiggy Down

Buvet charges to the side of his companions, his warhammer raised high. Once beside the surrounded gnoll, he brings his weapon to bear with tremendous force.

Charge Attack: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Rats," the dwarf exclaims, his forceful blow completely missing its mark.

The surrounded gnoll turns and barks out a cry for help, thrusting its spear at Kalvin before stepping away from the melee. Its comrade charges at the fighter with its own spear braced before it. Kalvin manages to deftly dodge each of the clumsy, yet powerful-looking blows.

Kalvin
Aranmon (1/8 HP)
Buvet (4/9 HP)
Gnoll 1 (DEAD)
Gnoll 2
Gnoll 3
Gerund

Unbelievable that no one hit anything this entire round!

Looking at the map I'm a bit confused. The gnoll who just charged is he standing right behind Kevin, right behind Gerund, or is he placed correctly and he threw his spear in which case it wouldn't have been a charge? It doesn't effect my attack but it might effect everyone else's.
Aranmon will try and attack the gnoll who attended him again with his quarter staff.
Attack roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
So that's strike two with the staff, or strike three for his attacks in general. Either way Aranmon couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

Gerund ignores the gnoll that is leaving, focusing on the one that is pressing the attack. He moves through the melee and places himself into a flanking position with Kalvin.

"This little one shouldn't be much longer for this world."

Warhammer Attack, flank: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Map Update

Twiggy Down

Buvet steps forward and adds his own bludgeoning strike to Gerund's attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

The gnoll falls dead with a yelp of pain. Seeing his allies laid flat by the four adventurers, the remaining gnoll takes off at a sprint, hoping to reach the woods before they may exact any retaliation.

"And don't come back!" Buvet shouts, spitting in the gnoll's general direction.

Kalvin (-3/15 HP, unconscious, stable)
Aranmon (1/8 HP)
Buvet (4/9 HP)
Gnoll 1 (DEAD)
Gnoll 2
Gnoll 3 (DEAD)
Gerund

Combat is over, unless you intend on chasing down the cowardly gnoll.

I'm going to check the bodies.
Perception check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
"Oh look it's a body," kicks the body, "I think it might be dead."

Hey!!!Stop kicking Kalvin he is not dead yet!!!

Gerund rushes to Kalvin's side and lays a hand across the fallen's forehead. In his other hand, he grasps his holy symbol of Gorum.

"Great Gorum, this one's not ready to be taken into the stone. Put some breath back into his lungs - we need his strength."

Using 'Spontaneous Casting' to sacrifice Cause Fear spell to be used for Cure Light Wounds.

CLW for Kalvin: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

With Kalvin regaining consciousness, Gerund stands and looks about, also giving the dead bodies (of the gnolls) a bit of an inspection for anything useful.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Is it bad that when you say that all I can think of is the song from Spamalot "I Am Not Dead Yet".

Besides their crude weaponry and leather armor, the gnolls carry nothing of value.

"Now ain't that a sight," Buvet sighs, pointing east toward the mountains. "Never get a good look at 'em from the village. Sometimes I forget they're even there."

Buvet points out the foot of the tall mountains where the Cobalt Chasm
is located. He notes the ravines and crevasses marking the cliffs, explaining that within some of them lie the old storage caves of the quarrymen.

"Now, I wouldn't mind some of that sparkly magic you just done for meself, brother dwarf," Buvet says, wincing as he sits upon the stump of a log next to the bonfire. "Once we're all sorted out, I say we look into the Yellow Cave. It ain't but a half-an-hour's walk from here, if the elf's map can be trusted."

"Aye, but of course," Gerund cheerfully agrees to Buvet's request. "Here, let's stand a little closer to young Kalvin here - he could probably stand to gain a bit more healin' too, as could Aranmon."

Gerund clasps his holy symbol again and closes his eyes. A light shines forth and engulfs the part in it's healing glow.

Channel Positive Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 2

"Hmm, let's try that again."

CPE: 1d6 ⇒ 3

I could go again, just let me know.

Kalvin gets up rubbing his wounds."Nice work dwarf. I can't even feel a scar. Should we track the last one? He might bring back friends." Kalvin stows his ax and pulls his bow out.

I wouldn't mind having full health, but if you'd like to hold off for a more pressing time I can live with being 2 off.

"Thanks old friend, I was on the verge of following the white light, but now I feel almost brand new."
If the party is ready to leave Aranmon will follow, though he going to stay a step or two behind in hopes of avoiding more melee combat.

I've got two Channels left for the day. If it looks like we plan to camp here for the night, I'll set everyone right.

"I say we find a fortified position to set camp for the night. I am still wounded and if the cave has more Gnolls it may be to much for us to handle." Kalvin moves around the ruin looking for a building to sleep in.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

"Aye," Buvet says, rubbing his legs. "Kalvin speaks sense. Let us camp tonight and search the cave tomorrow morning."

The dwarf begins pulling various odds and ends from his pack. Soon he has the bonfire going once again and a number of plump sausages roasting over it.

"No use playing coy here," he says. "If Zafron's thrown his lot in with them gnolls, then he already knows where we are. Best we keep one eye open tonight."

I'll leave it up to you three to work out the watch rotation. You can assume that Buvet will pull his own weight and offer to take 1/4 of the night.

Gerund uses up his remaining Channels.

2 Channels: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

He also casts cure light wounds on whoever may need it.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"If'n you don't mind. I'd like either first or second watch. I need the uninterrupted rest to get my mind back in shape for my spells."

"Gerund, if you want first shift I'll take last. Magic is some tricky business if your awoken in the middle of your sleep.

"I'll take middle watch. I am not sacred of the dark or what lurks within it." Kalvin settles in and is fast asleep.

The night passes with little more than a few far-off hyena calls echoing through the woods. The party wakes to the sound of sizzling sausages and the sight of Buvet working the bonfire.

"You lot finally up?" he says, smiling as he snaps a bite of a blackened sausage. "Well, eat up hearty. It'll be an hour's ride to the Yellow Cave, if that be where we're off to this morning."

"Good morning. That smells good." Kalvin walks over to the fire and grabs a piece of meat.

After his uneventful watch and a full night's rest, Gerund spends an hour in meditation, preparing his spells for the day. The smell of the sausages being cooked makes it difficult for him to concentrate for the last few minutes.

"Little bits of heaven is what those smell like!" Gerund declares as he stabs a fork in a sausage straight from over the fire and bites into it with relish.

"Mmm, compliments to the cook," he says with a nod to Buvet.

After eating his share, or perhaps a little more than his share, of breakfast, Gerund packs up his items and addresses the group. "You wouldn't mind if I offered a quick prayer to Gorum, would you - on behalf of us?"

"Oh no, of course not," Buvet says with a smile. "Not much for religion meself, but don't let that keep you. I'll be tending to my things, readying them for our trip to the cave. Let me know when you're all ready to leave."

The dwarf opens his pack and starts pulling out gear, cleaning his cooking supplies, and generally getting ready to hit the trail.

Let me know when you are ready to depart.

After he meal Kalvin sits quietly by the fire sharpening his weapons.

Having taken the last watch Aranmon is enjoying a the smallest sausage as the other arise. With his mouth full Aranmon skips on the traditional verbal greeting for a less formal wave and head nod. Just as he is finishing up everyone else starts devouring their breakfasts so he says "While you all enjoy your meal I'm going to step over here and make sure I have all of those spells ready for us."

"Great Gorum, we ask of you today to bring your greatsword of destruction down upon our foes. Give our arms strength, that we might deliver these souls to you. We know that thou art a fickle god, but we hope to appease you by dedicating each kill today to your name. Amen."

I'm still not too familiar with the different Gods, but I believe Gorum is Chaotic Neutral, so it didn't seem fitting to ask him to help us bring justice - even though that's what we're doing.

Kalvin stretches his legs then gets all his camp gear back into his pack."Ready when you guys are."

Yellow Cave

With full bellies and gear safely packed away, you set off on a dead-end branch of the Stonecutter's Way toward the Yellow Cave. After two hours of following the old trail, now covered in weeds and debris, you discover what remains of an old lake about five miles north of Twiggy Down. Now a fetid swamp, you search about for a cave showing signs of human excavation, and that might have served as a catacomb for the inhabitants of the abandoned village. It is only because of Buvet's blurry familiarity with the area that you don't spend days searching for the cave's entrance on the rough side of a low cliff.

"Ah, yes," the dwarf sniffs proudly. "Here it is. I remember it now - the look on Zafron's face when I catch with his pants down a second time!"

The roughly circular cave carved into part of a gargantuan formation of yellow limestone lies flooded in stagnant water. The cave seems to have been artificially enlarged, and badly faded ancient murals adorn its walls. The crude but detailed paintings represent animals, hunters, and scenes of everyday life. All visible figures are painted in profile except for five bearded sphinxes with spiked tails. These keep their hateful gaze fixed on the observer as they gorge themselves on human sacrifices.

"I'll take the lead, someone light a torch." Kalvin straps his shield to his left arm and readies a javelin. After a torch is lit Kalvin wades through the pool at the entrance to the cave.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

"I can do better than a torch," Gerund says to Kalvin. Gerund draws his warhammer and mutters a quiet incantation. Within an instant, the warhammer glows with a bright light. "Wouldn't need it if'n you were a dwarf." He says with a smile.

Gerund dons his shield as well and takes a look around, "Ugh, that's not a pleasant sight." Gerund takes a few steps forward, testing the depth of the water and searching for a way further into the cave.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

I cannot move myself on the map at work, but I'd like to move Gerund 3 squares up.

Kalvin's Movement

MAP

Aranmon steps more into the room and extends his magic outwards trying to see what he can sense from the every inch of the cave.
Casting Detect Magic on the room.
Gerund and Aranmon's moves