Eddrikk chuckles at Kanzen getting smacked.
"Ah young love, such a beautiful thing," Eddrikk says when Galenus tells them to stop kissing.
Eddrikk will search for something to help while sleeping on rocks.
The group continues along in the darkness and quiet with Kanzen and Cyrus leading the way. Then they hear clacking noises from a passageway the leaders just walked past. Two large creatures that look something like turtles with hooks for hands and bird's heads come dashing out of the passage on the right hand side and dart into one on the left hand side before anyone can react. How such large creatures slip through such small tunnels is quite the mystery. You hear whooping, hollering, and growling coming from where the strange creatures just fled.
The strange creatures are hook horrors, fairly tough monstrosities that seek food and survival like any beast.
My vision is marred by bias and a long festering anger towards the drow. I cannot rightfully judge him. His kind always harm their own. That aspect makes him little different in my eyes. He responds to Galinndan.
at the commotion caused by the creatures, Tiberius pauses. So... Can we all agree to ignore that and try to sneak on past without any trouble? he mutters to the group.
"Sneaking sounds great to me.."
apparently mostly naked tieflings are still loud though.
Cyrus nods and tries to find a place to hide.
"I have only ever seen them hunt my kind or humans, or direct their orc slaves to do likewise. I no longer doubt that they fight amongst themselves. But Kanzen risks much by travelling with us if that is the case."
*********
Galinndan puts a finger to his lips, and then motions with his hand, waving in towards the wall. He is clearly trying to be quiet himself.
Let them pass.
Galenus recognizes the sounds and sights of the creatures.
These are Hook Horrors! Yeah, I know, vicious name. But really, they're just like big animals - dangerous if you mess with them. Like a bear. I wonder what they're running from?
The group continues along in the darkness and quiet with Kanzen and Cyrus leading the way. Then they hear clacking noises from a passageway the leaders just walked past. Two large creatures that look something like turtles with hooks for hands and bird's heads come dashing out of the passage on the right hand side and dart into one on the left hand side before anyone can react. How such large creatures slip through such small tunnels is quite the mystery. You hear whooping, hollering, and growling coming from where the strange creatures just fled.
As Galinndan and Cyrus attempt to slink into the shadows, some large hairy brutes with spears and longbows come whooping and hollering into the passage, chasing the hook horrors.
One of them stabs at the back of one of the fleeing horrors and barely manages to draw some greenish-blue blood from it. The other is startle upon seeing you all and flails his spear wildly at Kanzen, somehow barely managing to strike him (4 damage). He grins wildly and calls back to two others of his kind that are coming from the passage.
"More food and sport! The lord will be pleased!"
These furry antagonists seem to be hunting the hook horrors, who only seem interested in surviving.
These furry humanoids are gnolls, a race known to love Bloodsport.
Eddrikk steps up and swings his grim greatclub at the gnarly gnoll.
The hook horrors only wish to survive. But these creatures thirst for killing. Show them no mercy.
Galenus castd his Mold Earth spell to try to excavate some dirt beneath that gnoll standing next to him.
His hopes is to drop the gnoll prone so his allies can gain advantage.
The gnoll falls prone as the loose earth beneath him shifts.
The prone gnoll is much easier for Eddrikk to strike, drawing a yelp of pain from the badly-wounded foe.
Irdril grants Kanzen bardic inspiration(1d6) as a bonus action and then fires an Eldritch Blast at the wounded Gnoll..
"My new master wishes for you to have something!"
but apparently she hasn't quite master the damaging side of her new attack..
The hook horro turns on the gnoll who just wounded it and strikes it a terrible blow through the abdomen with a hooked talon. It then turns and flees through the tunnel after its partner.
The nearly-dead gnoll jabs feebly at the hook horrors but misses wildly.
You are familiar enough with gnolls to realize that, when excited to rampage, they can make extra attacks. When a gnoll brings a creature to zero HP, it can move up to half its speed and make a bite attack as a bonus action. Also, a gnoll pack Lord can cause a gnoll within 30 ft of it to make a melee attack as a bonus action (recharge 5-6).
Galenus lines up his dagger to throw at the gnoll between Galenus and Cyrus - and lets it fly.
Galenus, if you withdraw, I can step in.
Cyrus takes a swipe at the Gnoll and runs to cover.
Galenus will take the withdraw action so Galinndan can step in.
Having taken a blow from a gnoll's spear, Kanzen sees he is swiftly about to be overrun and surrounded. Deflecting multiple blows with his two daggers, he manages to retreat out of the centre of the fighting.
Let me move to the front!
Cyrus' blow finishes off the gnoll that was struck by the hook horror!
Kanzen moves into the gap, putting his back to the rock wall, and lashing out with his daggers at the gnoll right in front of him, trusting that the hook horror is too concerned with fleeing danger to attack him.
Kanzen finishes off the gnoll in front of him with deft strokes of his twin blades! The two gnolls behind them move up, snarling, to avenge their fallen comrades!
You hear more gnolls coming from a nearby passage (marked on map). They don't seem to have noticed you yet.
Irdril heals Kanzen as a bonus action and then blasts the gnoll on him..
"Take this you nasty ass gnoll!!"
She moves back a little to provide more room as well. 5' back..
A very small dart of force erupts from Irdril and hits the gnoll right in the eye. Kanzen sees the display and hears Irdril's encouragement. The combination makes him feel much better and able to keep on fighting.
Galinndan swaps places with Galenus. His dagger thrown, he has but his shortsword.
And that will be sufficient., he thinks to himself as he slashes at the gnoll's face.
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Cyrus continues his hit and run tactics against the Gnolls.
Kanzen continues slashing at the gnolls, aiming for wrists, ankles, knees, and neck.
Cyrus dances in and out while Kanzen slashes furiously, landing one blow.
Galinndan also lands a nasty slash.