"That's singing? Dull flat singing. Probably a dwarf but its only 200 feet away I'd surmise," adds the bland elf.
That big center stalagmite be hollow. See ye can tell by the grooves. Don't be reachin' in there, though. Oozes an' such like t'live inside.
Kraz grunts and heads off to the north..
"Oozes living inside stone? Now Silvio has heard it all", Silvio says and follows Kraz towards the singing.
Pik shrugs, I don't hear anything. But..I'll trust your ears over mine. He shrugs again and follows along quietly.
Rath agrees to take up the rear, though he spends much time looking behind him and finding only blackness. Finally he pulls forth a flaming handful of Fire element, and holds it in his hand to provide light. Renewing it as it dims.
Perception
Dorin and Kraz take the lead making their way in the darkness, with the rest of the party around twenty feet behind ensuring the light doesn’t give the scouts away. The walls and floor are slick with cool, mineral-rich water. Dorin sees no sign of any tracks and it looks like this section of the caves is rarely visited. As you explore, you see the path branch, continuing north to a dead end and also west. Kraz and Dorin soon find their way to the main cavern of the complex and the source of the off-key singing is revealed.
The large chamber is around sixty feet in diameter with half a dozen passages leading off in all directions. The centre of the cave is dominated by a forest of stalagmites, some reaching almost all the way to the ceiling, thirty feet above. Right beside the cavern’s main entrance is a bubbling, mud pool currently occupied by a single ogre, wallowing in the warm mud as he sings to himself. Against the cavern’s wall to your right you can see a still pool of water, a slight runoff trickling out through another passage.
From where Dorin and Kraz are, you can see three ledges around the chamber’s circumference. Although there’s no obvious easy way to reach them, atop each stone platform is a pair of goblins. Although presumably on guard, none of them seem to be paying much attention to the exits and neither of your scouts are seen.
Dorin turns immediately to the others and puts up both hands so that they stop, motions them backwards, then puts his finger to his lips in a hushing motion. He then slowly walks back to let them know the scene up ahead.
Kraz hunkers down to remain out of sight and waits for Dorin to explain to the others whats going on..
"So, a bathing ogre and a couple of goblins you say? How far up do you reckon the goblins are? You know that Silvio is a proficient leaper", the young chelaxian proclaims. "There is also the stealthy approach, which fits Silvio as well. How well lit was the cavern?"
Hmph...not well-lit at all, and we are talkin' 'bout a half-dozen goblins and an ogre that we be seein'. Let's try t' head in quiet like, unless somebody's got some magic they need t'be sendin' in first?
"Little light? That is going to cause a problem. Curse these perfectly colored darkbrown eyes which matches witch goes fantastically with the rest of Silvio's striking appearence. Perhaps you go in first and setup your positions in the dark, then Silvio and his good friend Rath moves in as a surprise second wave when we attack?"
Pik smiles, Some light can be arranged. He looks around the group. So, what's the plan? Do we rush the room? I think if we tried to make them come to us at least one will run to get others. If we can attack them quickly and cut off their way out of the cave, we might be able to take them before attracting too much attention.
"Hmm. Goblins are weak when faced one on one, however when they can coordinate their efforts they can be dangerous. I have a spell that lets me send out a gigantic wave of thunder, that I might be able to direct at those two just to the right as we enter, but I'm not sure what effect that might have on the cave. Might cause some rubble to fall from the roof of the cave or worse. The spell would damage them, and perhaps knock them off the ledge. Other than that I can keep throwing handfuls of flame at them until we're in melee".
Let's just get in there and get after'em. Kraz and I can lead, an' you magic types should be takin'out any archers t'buy us cover.
Kraz awaits Dorins return and the game plan..
Rath simply shrugs and starts after Dorin, ready to fling some of his magical fire when called upon.
Stealth
And though he tries to travel quietly he seems to trip quite often on rocks and pebbles and fails to conceal his approach. After he knocks over the second pile he curses and quickens his pace.
"Balz"!
Well if you can't be quiet be fast.
Let's be gettin' in there, Kraz. Our friends be coverin'us with the ranged enemies.
Dorin walks past Kraz hefting his axe, as he heads right after the bathing ogre, marking him as an enemy in route.
Kraz follows suit and charges the Ogre with his greatsword. Raging as he goes.
If he can reach him and attack he will.. If not dash action. Reckless attack as well.
Restraining himself from running headlong into a dark cavern filled with Silvio waits for his companions to set up, then joins the battle when the cavern is lit.
You creep up to the cave entrance, unnoticed by the cave’s inhabitants before bursting into the chamber, uncovering your light source at the last moment, to enable Rath and Silvio to see the nearby goblins.
Monsters:
Dorin and Kraz charge into the room, focussed on the bathing ogre as they close the distance.
Your light reaches a little way into the room, illuminating the nearest four goblins up on their ledges and dimly lighting the battle between Kraz, Dorin and the ogre. The farthest reaches of the cavern are still in darkness, although Kraz and Dorin can now see another pair of ten foot high ledges with goblins perched on top of them.
Coronei casts mirror image on himself then moves out and along the wall to the left fifteen feet.
He has cast light on his bow and Silvio's weapon too. The dancing lights move in behind.
Coronei casts mirror image on himself then moves out and along the wall to the left fifteen feet.
He has cast light on his bow and Silvio's weapon too. The dancing lights move in behind.
Rath moves immediately in and to the right, heaving his small ball of flame at one of the goblins on the ledge to the right.
Produce Flame
Fire Damage
Silvio draws his rapier and dagger while dashing into the room. He atempts to parkour onto the closest platform with two goblins, but his foot fails to find purchase and leaves him sliding down to the base of the platform.
Pik moves forward with the others, staying near the back of the group. We'll have to work fast. This is going to get loud. The half-elf whispers a harsh arcane word as he draws his rapier.
Rath moves into the cave and heads to the right hand ledge, flinging a ball of flame up towards the two goblins bickering on top. Unfortunately, he finds it difficult to get a clear shot and it sizzles through the air between them, exploding against the cave wall.
Silvio joins him and attempts to climb up the wall, however the all pervasive water has left the rock face slick and he is forced to drop to the floor, searching for another way up as he remains alert for danger.
Coronei and Pik both move a little into the room closer to the other wall, each casting a spell. Coronei seems to split into four identical copies, each moving as one, continually shifting and passing through one another.
Pik's spell envelops the ledge behind the Ogre as well as the mud pool. One of the goblins begins to glow eerily as well as several rocks and pebbles up on the ledge and on the cavern floor.
Suddenly aware they are under attack, the goblins begin scrambling for shortbows and the Ogre looks ready to sweep up a giant club lying beside the mud pool.
Pik holds up his hand in front of his face mockingly, Whoah, whoah, that's way too much light! Look big...er...little guy? You gotta put that away. How are you going to keep the respect of these goblins?
Kraz attacks the Ogre with all his might, his frenzy taking over.. "BLOOD TO THE BLOOD GOD!!!! RAWWWRRR!!!!"
Using frenzy for bonus attack and reckless attack..
The ogre looks up at Pik, flushing slightly as an unfamiliar feeling of self-doubt washes over him. Before he can respond, Kraz unleashes a savage flurry of attacks, the berserk half-orc inflicting several nasty wounds.
Coronei casts mirror image on himself then moves out and along the wall to the left fifteen feet.
He has cast light on his bow and Silvio's weapon too. The dancing lights move in behind.
Dorin attempts to finish off the Ogre, as he swings his hammer mightily.
Silvio notices some footholds that takes him soaring to the top of the platform, landing next to the goblins scrambling for their weapons. He raises his blades and goes in for the attack.
Dorin engages the ogre, but is unable to land an effective blow. Meanwhile, Silvio finds a better grip, vaulting up onto the platform amidst the alarmed sentries. Skewering the first, he moves on to the second, aiming for a second quick kill. However, the goblin has managed to draw its dogslicer and fends off the rogue's attack.
Seeing that Silvo has things in hand on the first platform, Rath continues around the way he started, and heaves another ball of flame at the goblins on the next ledge, taking whatever partial cover he can as he goes.
Produce Flame
Flame
He caws like a crow, and flaps his robe about him as he moves.
Rath's cries echo through the cave, the shaman moving to shelter behind the stalagmites as he fires another bolt of fire at the northwestern ledge. He has more luck this time, catching one of the goblins as it prepares to fire at Kraz and Dorin.
The ogre scoops up it’s club, retaliating against the berserk Kraz, but still uncertain of his own abilities.
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Kraz is hit! However, the half-orc hardly appears to notice the wound.
Meanwhile, the goblins react to the party, the caves filling with their excited cries as a hail of arrows pepper the party from all sides! The one sharing the ledge with Silvio leaps at him with a maniacal shriek.
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A weak attack, easily turned aside.
The two on the northwestern ledge divert their attack from Kraz and Dorin, choosing instead to shoot at Rath as he ducks behind a limestone pillar.
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Despite the cover in the centre of the cave, one of the goblins gets in a lucky shot and its arrow strikes Rath in the arm. Around the cavern, arrows fly towards the party.
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Dorin weathers the storm, hunkered down behind his shield, however Pik also suffers injury. The final arrow passes harmlessly through the ever moving sea of identical Coroneis.
Dorin again attempts to finish off the Ogre, as he swings his hammer mightily.
C'mon, ya big oaf!
The light from Coronei’s light spell reflects off Silvio’s pearly white teeth as he thrusts his rapier into the poor goblin.
Pik grunts as the arrow grazes his thigh. That was foolish. I need to find some cover. As he moves towards the rocks with Rath he calls out to the goblin that fired on him Really? That was your best shot? He holds his empty hand over his chest, This is my heart. Waving to his wound, This is my leg. He gesture back and forth, Heart, leg. Heart, leg. Might want to work on that.
With multiple foes attacking him backs off reckless attack this round.. He still swings ferociously at the ogre though...
Dorin continues his attack on the Ogre but has cannot find a way past the brute's defences as the large creature catches the hammer in a crude parry.
Distracted by Dorin's attack, the ogre fails to defend properly against Kraz who cuts the ogre down with a fearsome assault!
The goblin Pik taunted just sneers, drawing another arrow and preparing to continue shooting.
Meanwhile, Silvio continues to mow through the goblins, clearing the first ledge of enemies with a lethal flurry of strikes.
Silvio kicks the lifeless goblin off the ledge and jump down the platform. He meets the cavern floor with a nifty tumble and start off towards another platform packed with goblins. Unfortunately the dashing rogue meets the same fate as his first atempt at scaling the wall to engage his foes.
Thankful that Silvo has decided to distract the goblins with his comic theatrics, Rath winces at the pain of the arrow, and send forth another cosmic gob of fire at the offending archer.
Produce ball of Flame
share ball of flame
He then screams out a warning...
Silvio leaps from the first platform and dashes to the next, however he is unable to get a grip on the slippery rock and remains at the base of the platform. Meanwhile, Rath's ball of fire once more targets atop the northern platform, scorching the one he burned last round.
On the southern side of the cave, Coronei notches an arrow and lets fly at the nearest foe.
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However it dodges easily.
From within the central forest of stalagmites, you hear a loud roar as another ogre forces her way through the tight space. Seeing Kraz and Dorin standing over the fallen ogre's body, she charges at them and attempts to avenge her mate's death, swinging at Kraz.
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With a sickening thud, the large club smashes into Kraz's side.
The goblins' cries grow louder as they frantically shout alarms towards the northwestern passageway. As they call for help, they continue peppering the party with arrows.
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Rath continues sheltering amidst the stalagmites, however Silvio is focussed on finding a way to climb the ledge and doesn't spot the danger until too late, suffering a deep wound to the shoulder.
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Dorin and Kraz continue to suffer the brunt of the attack, embroiled in battle with the newly arrived ogre as arrows fly through the air. Most of them sail wide, but Dorin suffers a hit, the arrow sticking out of his upper arm.
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Having found shelter from the archers, Pik is not troubled by the goblin shooting at him. One arrow strikes one of Coronei's slowly moving images and it disappears.
Dorin now attempts to smash the newly arrived Ogre.
Time fer you t'fall too!