The short, squat human with the hooded cloack drawn over his head began to speak. "I had heard about Garavel's group trying to take back Kelmarane. I finally caught up to him at the temple and something evil had already found him as well. There were two weird demonic hyenas attacking the guards, and I was able to h elp finish those off. I ran inside and saw the cleric and Garavel fighting off a large jackal headed thing. My arrows had no effect on it, and it killed the priest. It turned to come for me, and it had me dead to rights. Something strange happened, and it was drawn away I suppose, because disappeared but it kept yelling 'I need more time!' I have no idea what that meant, but I think I got lucky. More time for it would have meant no time left for me."
Eli pushes through the gathering and kneels down at his good friends side, tears streak the sand cakeing his face and he screams in anguish. Sobs shake his body as he comes to terms with the death of another companion. Moments later his eyes flash with anger and he flings himself at Garavel grabing the desert leader by the front of his clothes and shakes him viloently. "What hell have you brought us to? You once tried to scare me with tales of goddless gnolls that would would peel my skin off and boil it. You said that they would decorate their armor with my teeth, that they would hang me by my testicles and have their hyenas eat pieces of me every day! That's what you said, but I think your real afraid of something else. I think you've been keeping a secret about something much more frightening then gnolls. I think you've known all along about the gate in the church and I think you better spit out the truth or I will make you spit out your teeth!"
Can you describe the creatures that were here? He says, indicating the black goo on the floor.
Trix wipes the tears from her eyes. "I'm so sorry for your loss wizard. Brebork saved us, that creature with the greatsword came into the Chapel with murderous eyes, and all of us civilians were inside the Chapel for our safety.... Her voice trails off as the tears return. She fights them off and continues, "But he fought so bravely, even wounding the demon with his holy power, but in the end he fell and by that time, the demon had no more interest in us and went upstairs to kill the princess."
"What hell have you brought us to? You once tried to scare me with tales of goddless gnolls that would would peel my skin off and boil it. You said that they would decorate their armor with my teeth, that they would hang me by my testicles and have their hyenas eat pieces of me every day! That's what you said, but I think your real afraid of something else. I think you've been keeping a secret about something much more frightening then gnolls. I think you've known all along about the gate in the church and I think you better spit out the truth or I will make you spit out your teeth!"
Garavel's sadness and grief overwhelms him at the death of another recruit, so young and promising and full of faith to his goddess. It even made him, a non-believer, say a prayer to whatever god would hear him. Eli's rant and ravings shock him back to reality, especially when the young noble grabs him by his vest. He roughly pushes Eli's arms away, yelling, "What is wrong with you??? I am not the enemy, Kardswann is! You thought you would kill his pets, kill his demon, kill his gnolls and there would be no repercussions! How stupid are you?! As the demon and his demonic hyenas killed the guards, do you know what he said?? He said, "Kardswann sends his regards!" This was payback for what you and your friends did to his forces. We knew there would be reprisals, we just didn't know they would end up catching us with our pants down, appearing out of thin air and killing 3 of us, before the alarm was raised. And if young Tyronel there had not appeared to help and the magic that bound that jackal-headed demon hadn't run out, you would have returned to a camp full of dead bodies! Now, what fu*king gate are you talking about? I've never even been there. I have told you all I know!" Garavel is perspiring heavily after his rant and you could hear a pin drop in the room, as everyone is silent. He continues, "We knew there'd be losses, Eli. I suffer as much as you. But we can't fight among ourselves now, we're at our weakest. 6 dead, five warriors and the priest. Do you think they were chosen at random? No, we are at war! I think this was the first wave, to weaken us, before we get the rest of the tribe up the a$$!"
Knowledge Arcana
Knowledge Dungeoneering
Knowledge Planes
Knowledge Religion
Very well. This ends now. Garavel, we will return when Kardswann is dealt with. Dumah, still unable to bring himself to look upon Brebork, turns and leaves, heading back toward the town.
Dumah loses: point of Con and Dex and is diseased (again)!
Tyronel tries to catch the young impatient fellow before he headed off again. "Are you sure you are ready to go back for more? No offense meant, but you are looking a bit worse for wear. Maybe you should rest and eat a bit before heading back out. If you are trying to free the village, I'd like to volunteer to help. The name's Tyronel."
Dumah will turn to Tyronel, offering him a weak smile. He extends a pale hand in greeting. Well met, Tyronel. Do not fear to shake my hand; the disease that ravages me in mystical in nature and cannot be contracted by others, unless onset by the undead or demonic monstrosities that inflicted them.
Glancing over at his companions, Dumah says I dare say your bow would be welcome in our next strike against the forces holding the town. Normally I would try to warn you off, but you have seen the kind of forces we face here, and I understand that you make your offer with eyes wide open.
As for my plans to assault the town, yes, I plan to do so immediately, but not entirely without caution. Allow me to summarize, since you are willing to be a part of it. The gnoll leader, who calls himself Kardswann, has the ability to conjure these demons to attack us. But I suspect his capacity to do so is limited, and he may not be able to do so again until a day has passed; otherwise he would have sent more to finish what these started. If that is the case, I do not want to give him time to regenerate that ability, having seen the devastation that it caused here.
Furthermore, I doubt they would suspect an immediate assault. Knowing the loses we took, I expect that they believe our combat capable forces are nearly gone, since they may not know that we were in town during the attack. They will expect that we will take time to rest, to mourn, to prepare. I believe they are less likely to expect an immediate retaliation from us.
Finally, I do not know how much longer I will be for this world. Our good cleric is able to treat some of the symptoms, but the diseases are still there and getting worse as time passes, not better. Even now I am experiencing shakes and he holds up a slightly quivering hand. He focuses on it, and for several moments it is still, only to return to a slight shaken momentarily after. When I concentrate, I can still my hands enough to be able to cast my spells, but tomorrow I may not be able to. I wish to put the spells in my mind to use exterminating the monsters there before their power is trapped forever behind my illnesses. If I am going to die, if I am going to waste away as seems likely now, I want to take as many of them with me as possible.
Well, if that Kardswann can summon even more of those monsters we aren't safe anywhere. I'd be more than happy to help you eliminate every last one of those creatures. The town used to be my home, and I'm keen on taking it back."
Garavel frowns and catches up with Dumah. "I can't stop ye, if that's your intended plan. I wish ye would stay and organize the defense when the next attack comes, but do what you must. Just know, that if you fall, so does everyone else in town." He looks at Tyronel. "I thank ye for your providential appearance and only ask that you stay and help in any way you can. You are not bound to me, so feel free to choose." He then turns and walks back to the Chapel and begins to organize the burial rites for Brebork and the other casualties.
Dumah will turn to his companions. What do you think? Am I being rash? Is it somehow better for us to remain here?
Garavel's sadness and grief overwhelms him at the death of another recruit, so young and promising and full of faith to his goddess. It even made him, a non-believer, say a prayer to whatever god would hear him. Eli's rant and ravings shock him back to reality, especially when the young noble grabs him by his vest. He roughly pushes Eli's arms away, yelling, "What is wrong with you??? I am not the enemy, Kardswann is! You thought you would kill his pets, kill his demon, kill his gnolls and there would be no repercussions! How stupid are you?! As the demon and his demonic hyenas killed the guards, do you know what he said?? He said, "Kardswann sends his regards!" This was payback for what you and your friends did to his forces. We knew there would be reprisals, we just didn't know they would end up catching us with our pants down, appearing out of thin air and killing 3 of us, before the alarm was raised. And if young Tyronel there had not appeared to help and the magic that bound that jackal-headed demon hadn't run out, you would have returned to a camp full of dead bodies! Now, what fu*king gate are you talking about? I've never even been there. I have told you all I know!" Garavel is perspiring heavily after his rant and you could hear a pin drop in the room, as everyone is silent. He continues, "We knew there'd be losses, Eli. I suffer as much as you. But we can't fight among ourselves now, we're at our weakest. 6 dead, five warriors and the priest. Do you think they were chosen at random? No, we are at war! I think this was the first wave, to weaken us, before we get the rest of the tribe up the a$$!"
Eli listens to Garavel and knows he speaks the truth about the costs of war, but still thinks that he might be holding out on information about what lies in Kelmarane. He scowls as his employer states the reality of more blood shed and Eli becomes determined that the rest of the spilt blood will be the enemies. Impatiently he joins Dumah, "I am with you, are you ready to go and make the rest of them pay for this? I say we hit them before they have a chance to prepare."
To the best of his knowledge, Eli sensed no deception in Garavel's words and he did not appear to be hiding anything.
As the party leaves, the caravan members realize their predicament, wipe their tears away and start cleaning up the blood. Trix goes through the warriors' corpses, removing gold, weapons, and armor. Samir and Amir wish the party luck and head back to the roof, bows in hand. Garavel posts the princess' surviving guards (2) at the post previously occupied by Ute's 3 mercenaries. He waves to the party and then heads to the Chapel with the Princess. April waves goodbye to Eli.
Ty sidles up to Garavel before the group leaves to go back to the town. "Garavel, I think you can handle things here for a bit. I am going with the raiders to try and take back my home. Hopefully, we'll be back sooner rather than later."
He jogs to catch up with the party after informing Garavel of his decision. "What other sort of devilry have you encountered in the town?" he asks.
Eli tryies to regain his composure, and keep a brave face for April. Inside he is writing from the anguish of all the loss, and the Demon Fever. The stranger, Tyronel joins them and Eli fills the time back to the village telling him about the enemie that they face. He ends with, "So you see, there is a dangerous bunch and they are playing for keeps. If you want to turn back now is the time." Retelling the tale helps focus him and as they approach the village for the second time Eli is once again focused and ready for action.
"I appreciate your warning, Eli, but I am happy to step in and yield what meager help I can. Don't expect me to hold down the front line, though...I prefer to snipe with my bow from afar."
Also during the trek back to the town, Tyronel describes in detail the scene he observed at the temple, as he arrived. Remembering Eli's upset at Garavel, he takes care to explain the bravery he saw from both Garavel and Brebork versus the demon.
Dumah grimaces as the group heads out, uncertain if he is happy his friends are with him for this, or wishing they would just go someplace safe. He walks with a slight hunch to his back, though sometimes he realizes he is doing it and forces himself to straighten. He appears to be shivering and keeps his robe pulled tightly around him as though he is chilled.
Even though they appear to have consolidated their forces in one structure, it is still possible, I believe, to take them by surprise and perhaps even in separate groups. I suspect the ogre and the bugbears at least do not care as much for being around gnolls, so they may have separate chambers until an alarm is raised.
Does everyone have an enchanted weapon of some sort? We may be facing some creatures that can only be harmed by mystical artifacts, so everyone should have at least a back up weapon. I have a dagger that I can lend to anyone who needs it. Also, I have a scroll with a spell that will temporarily enchant a weapon; I had originally intended to add it to my regular selection of spells, but time and money have not allowed for that.
I have a dagger made of cold iron metal, and my fine bow here, but I do not possess any true magical weaponry," he tells the young mage.
It's about 20 minutes into your 30 minute journey (since you're not racing this time) when suddenly...
"They are here to the west, just over there. Quzman let's get them!" Eli charges the spot he saw the flash of light drawing Tempest. "Come out and face me cowards!"
Let's stay together. Perhaps we can still get the drop on them.
"Slow and steady, friend," Tyronel suggests to Eli. "If they are hiding over there, we don't have to rush into an ambush. Let's go investigate it," he says, plucking an arrow from his quiver and squinting toward where Eli was heading, still not seeing anything.
Quzman stoically leads the group along the most direct route possible, while maintaining some cover. He has not said a word since finding the tragedy that had befallen the caravan, only responding with sullen nods and hand signs during the trip.
Upon Eli's frantic shout, Quzman starts to pull himself from his reverie. He will quickly grab Eli's arm in an attempt to hold him back from rushing headlong into the desert. While taking a second to examine the area Eli believes holds the enemy.
When he pulls out the spyglass, Quzman sees, which I assume he shares immediately with the party, 2 packs of 4 gnolls each, dressed in camouflage clothing, about a mile west of the party's location, scurrying at a brisk pace along the desert, heading south toward the monastery. They are armed with their normal equipment, longbows, battleaxes, and shields. Under their camouflage robes, you see a glint of chain shirts, which seems to be what appeared as a flash of light. They do not seem aware of you.
Truly keen eyes, gentlemen. As sharp as your enchanted blades. We must act quickly. We must assume the worst case scenario; that the entire pack is now moving through the desert to assault the monastery. This a perfect chance for us to dwindle their numbers and delay an assault. I suspect that the rest of the forces arrayed against the monastery will hesitate waiting for these thugs to get into place. They will not wait long to be sure, but perhaps just long enough for us to find and eliminate more forces and be there to help defend our charges there.
"If you can get us fairly close to them, I will be able to hopefully pick a few off from range before they know what's hit them. Or if you lead them to us, either way."
Quzman looks at Tyronel with a gleem in his eye, and quietly murmurs, "I do not know you well, but I like the way you think my friend."
He turns to Eli and the rest of the group, "I know we've lost some good mates to these heinous beasts. Let us take out some revenge on this group. I can lead us closer to them, and we can take them from a range and make them rue the day they came against good Brebork."
Assuming you start chasing after them, after about 15 minutes of hustling, you get to within 100' of them, as you come over a dune, just as the 2 packs start heading further east toward the monastery.
Initiative
Upon getting within range of the gnolls, Ty looses an arrow at the closest gnoll to the group, trying to land his shot with extra force. "Take them all down," he says, watching the path of his shot.
Attack w/ Deadly Aim
Damage
Tyronel's shot is true, as he aims the bow a bit upward, to increase the arrow's downward momentum as it drops and catches a gnoll in the shoulder, causing him to stop jogging, and wounding him severely!
As he catches sight of the gnolls in range as he crests the hill, Quzman will quickly nock an arrow and take aim at the lead gnoll. He curses under his breath as he lets fly, "You shall pay for what you did to Brebork."
Another gnoll screams in pain, as Quzman's aim is true, fueled by hatred!
Bahiyy looks to the heavens, closes his eyes, and blesses the party with his deity's might. .
Eli shurgs off Quzmans grasp, "We can not let them get away." Then the newcomer suggests a plan and with a dark smile Eli nods in agreement. He hustles along with the others and switches to his longbow thinking how poetic it will be to kill gnolls with the captured weapon. When they get to the strike point he moves to a better vantage point , takes a deep breath, lines up on the nearest gnoll , and lets an arrow fly.
Eli's arrow strikes true, but the gnoll's chain shirt and his naturally tough skin prevent it from drawing blood.
Eli's arrow strikes true, but the gnoll's chain shirt and his naturally tough skin prevent it from drawing blood.
Dumah will step to M18 and cast Flaming Sphere, willing it into existence in square o2.
Dumah casts his spell.
Dumah will move behind Quzman, and order the sphere to strike the gnoll in 03. Damage . Reflex save DC 16.
Gnoll Reflex save: ; he nimbly avoids the sphere.