Glutted on carrion, the razorscales sluggishly snap at Kzrira as she grabs her bow and steps back firing an arrow directly into one's head. Amir finishes off the final lizard with a couple quick slashes.
Karethas conjures a slick of grease beneath the melee in the room and the humanoid struggling in the cat's jaws tumbles. In a moment the leopard is sent back to its homeplane under the axe blows that rain down on it. As their companion struggles to its feet, the other monsters move into the torchlight.
Kzrira is the one to recognize the crested creatures with loose gray scaled skin from tales she heard from her time among the rangers at Fort Longjaw. These are troglodytes, an ancient race of iguana-like humanoids that emit a sickening stench. They are common in the underdark and thoroughly devoted to evil in their worship of demons and inhuman gods.
Karethas quietly says"Make them come to us!" as he steps back. He pulls a pearl of power from one of his pouches and recalls the Grease spell.
Seeing the situation and the lizard-like humanoids at the back of the room I begin to sing a battle tune that inspires everyone.
Kzrira growls in disgust:
Troglodytes, disgusting subterranean half-reptiles that worship demons. Everyone, keep backing up, make them come to us.
Kzrira again fires two shots at the closest foe, F9.
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
The first shot, although not perfectly aimed, is powerful.
The second arrow is dead on, unfortunately it barely pierces the creatures tough green hide.
If Faelar moves back, I will 5-foot step back as well.
The party retreats ten feet from the doors attempting to lure the trogs into the narrow passage. The pair of vile creatures still visible in the torch light hiss uncertainly a moment. Then Kzrira fires at the one in the open. Her first shot hits its strange leather and bone armor hard making it flinch which causes her second shot to hit, but pierce the loose flesh of its arm instead of a more vital area.
The wounded trog charges the archer, its well made battle axe held high overhead. With a downward arc it lands a telling blow on Kzrira. The other trog remains by the door and throws a javelin at Amir which is deflected.
Karethas casts Grease again, this time right under Amir. "Amir, watch your step!"
I stop my singing, but as before the words are echoing around in your heads. Seeing Kzrira get hit with the axe I step to the side, so she can still step back. I then reach forwards and touch the wand to her arm.
Amir has kept close to Karethas defending the wizard who casts his recalled spell. The Trog catches himself a moment on the now slick tunnel floor, but as he shifts to attack the archer again, he slips and falls. Amir quickly takes the opportunity to slash with his blades, but only Simin draws sluggish blue blood.
Allowing his tale to echo in his companions ears, Faelar steps behind Karethas to clear the way for Kzrira.
Kzrira flinches as the axe bites into her arm, then a second later, she smiles as the bard's healing magic infuses her body leaving only a thin cut where the slice had been before.
Chaotic fools, you have no hope. May you enjoy sticks of wood protruding from your guts.
With that she again steps back and fires two more arrows into the trog before her.
-->if the trog before me is the one that fell, then I will fire at the one standing by Amir. If not, then I will fire at the one before me. I will not shoot one on the ground as this will be a -4 on the attack roll, unless there is only one left standing.
5-foot move back
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
This time both shots hit dead on their mark, unfortunately neither pierces as deep as they should. Apparently that cut took something out of the archer's strength for a moment.
Amir takes advantage of the fallen troglodyte's exposure and stabs it through the back of the neck with Simin killing it. Kzrira fires at the one by the door. Even though it is trying to hide behind the corner, she hits it twice gravely injuring the cave dweller. The creature hisses and releases a wave of negative energy as it ducks back out of sight.
Will: <-- add +2 if Protect from Evil applicable
Seeing the Trog retreating and feeling the malevolent evil negative energy it releases, Kzrira steps forward hoping to put and end to this miserable creatures existence.
Move as far forward as necessary.
Attack:
Damage:
Will take an AoO if necessary.
Stupid demon worshipping underworld frog, time to rot like the rest of your victims.
Kzrira advances back to the door once the floor is de-slickened. The treacherous troglodyte swings its ax in a gleaming arc as she approaches, but the archer is too quick. She dodges though the blow is near enough to slice her sleeve and fires pointblank into the reptilian priest's throat. It collapses with a dying gurgle.
For a place the gnome so casually navigated, I find these caves to be...unpleasant.
Kzrira looks back at the elder thief.
As I said before, I trust that gnome as far as I can throw him. And despite his diminutive size, that is not very far.
She then carefully proceeds into the chamber to see whether anything is to be found.
Perception: <-- searching the dead trogs as well since one seemed to be a cleric of some sort
Thoughts turn back to the suspicious gnome as the adventurers quickly search their strange surroundings. The two troglodytes are armed armed alike with exotic leather armor reinforced with bits of bone, it reeks and is likely worthless. Their battle axes are another matter however. Both are of high quality and definitely not gnoll or troglodyte make. They also have several javelins (5). Nothing detects as magical.
Pushing through the ancient chamber now defiled with dangling gnoll corpses, Kzrira finds the opposite wall has an altar built into it and a strange petroglyph above it. It is hard to say what it depicted originally, but it has been scratched and dug at until it roughly resembles a great spider like image.
Her attention is called back to the present and thoughts of where the third troglodyte went, when she hears a gathering tumult from beyond the doors to either side of the altar.
Kzrira looks to Amir as she draws her rapier.
Should we see what is behind the door? Or cut down the corpses to make it more difficult for whatever is back there?
I look at the spider-like image and try to recall whether I have seen it before.
"Perhaps Amir can take a peek?" Karethas says distractedly as he too studies the alter. He looks back at Amir after a moment and says, "If you check the doors and get them unlocked, then I can make you invisible for a short time for some scouting...say a minute?"
Shouts of alarm grow louder as a number of troglodytes approach.
Kzrira looks to Karethas and Faelar: Either of you know what that shouting is? It sounds like we are about to meet the welcoming party, and I do not think that we are going to like the welcoming.
Karethas, you have any more animals you can call, perhaps a whole flock of something to give Amir flanking support? Or one of your favorite pits to impede their advance?
Kzrira will begin to retreat back to the entrance on the far side where we fought before expecting the rest to do likewise to create a position that will be difficult to flank from.
Karethas give Kzrira a look that says Don't tell me my business woman! before beginning his preparations. "It is more troglodytes coming to protect their eggs. Expect a big one!"
Hearing the shouting, I speak back in a loud voice.
I look to Kzrira, "They think we are with the Gnolls and here to take their eggs, let me talk to them before you do anything."
In between spells Karethas hisses, "They are evil, demon worshiping, lizards. I don't think they will be open to talking."
"They are just protecting their eggs. You don't think they will be open for talking, but you don't know!"
Kzrira looks at Faelar as she nocks another arrow:
Remember the nice slave lady from the tannery. These are worshippers of the most vile god to ever exist in this world. Even the devil himself fought to imprison the Beast. They may want to protect their eggs, but they are not going to negotiate.
Pull down G4 & F5. Drop the pit in C1/C2/D1/D2.
I will back up to E9 with Amir in F9. Karethas behind me and Faelar behind Amir would be my preferred tactic.
This should give Karethas a better line of sight for his spells and put Faelar where he can heal Amir more easily as needed.
Also, is the Circle of Protection from Evil still in force? I think it has like a 10min/level duration.
If anyone wants to change the setup, please let DM Voodoo know.
Under Kzrira's decisive if somewhat bossy command, The Heroes of Kelmerane quickly arrange the battleground to their advantage. With assistance, Kzrira pulls two corpses off the barbed chains to clear her line of fire to the left hand door as Karethas conjures a pit before the right hand door.
The adventurers then return to the passage at the opposite end of the room where Karethas begins another conjuring. Three small stony elementals appear just as the stinking reptilians reach the doorways. The razorscale driven ahead saves one from a tumble into the pit as the lizard suddenly balks and digs its claws into the sloped sides of the pit. At the other entrance, another razorscale leads the approaching trogs against the summoned earth creatures.
Amir
Karethas
Faelar
Kzrira
Trogs
Seeing that my attempts at Diplomacy have failed I begin to sing a tune usually played at times of mourning, it is sorrowful, but that sorrow helps my friends cling to what they have in the world of the living.
Amir sighs as he knocks his shortbow and fires at the lead lizard. Hows does such a cheerful fellow sing such depressing songs...
Seeing the doors open, Kzrira squints her eyes as she concentrates on the monsters behind the door and begins to unleash a rain of piercing death.
Nice tune Faelar, although I hope you are not mourning for the spawn of the Beast.
Firing at the H0 trog if possible, otherwise the H1 lizard.
Attack-rapid shot: <-- more than 30', no point blank shot
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot: <-- more than 30', no point blank shot
Damage:
With both shots sinking into the foe, Kzrira grins.
Keep up the confusion Karethas, lets get those stinkers before we have to smell their stench. . . Nice shot Amir.
Karethas whips off another spell, seemingly leaving the trogs moving much slower than before. The three earth elementals charge the lizard appearing in the doorway, their powerful attacks pounding the poor creature into a crumpled mess.
N Small outsider (earth, elemental, extraplanar)
Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
Defense
AC 17, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (–1 Dex, +7 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref –1, Will +3
Immune elemental traits
Offense
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., earth glide
Melee slam +6 (1d6+4)
Special Attacks earth mastery
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 13
Feats Improved Bull RushB, Power Attack
Skills Appraise +1, Climb +7, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +7
Under Kzrira's decisive if somewhat bossy command.
At the start of Faelar's dirge, Amir grimaces, but lands a great shot across the dimly lit room into the leading razorscale. Karethas casts a spell and the grinding stone creatures suddenly bolt forward. The lead two elementals stomp the injured lizard dead. The third one half enters the wall to land a killing blow on the troglodyte.
As Kzrira feels the sudden acceleration of Karethas' spell, she faces only a darkened doorway clogged by corpses and elementals.
I will delay until I can see a target.
Kzrira sees movement beyond the darkened door as a clumsily thrown javelin flies past the elementals. The one in the doorway suffers a hard blow from a club.
Karethas, get your mud balls to roll back. I cannot see them and cannot get a shot off.
I stop my performance but as seems the usual now, the tune continues to play through the heads of my companions. I then poise myself to heal anyone who gets injured.
Two more troglodytes step through the doorway and fall upon the slain razorscale. One with a pair of Kzrira's arrows in its chest and the other mangled by the elementals. There is a bellow in draconic and no more troglodytes show at either of the doorways.
If they are not coming to us, lets take the battle to them.
Seeing the trogs holding back, Kzrira moves into the room hoping to see a target.
Move to H4.
Readied attack: <-- +2 Inspire Courage, +1 Haste
Damage:
Karethas says quietly to the group, "They've smartened up and are going to wait back. Start moving forward. I'm going to weaken and trap them." He yells out to the elementals
The mournful notes of Faelar's song fade as it becomes evident that the troglodytes have paused to rethink their approach. Kzrira impatiently begins to move forward as Karethas whispers to the others and then speaks to his elemental allies.
Yup, don't want to waste the Haste if we can avoid it. I want to get some attacks off as soon as I can, that is why I moved forward.