Guilford plays the role of Harry Potter and fires a wand charge from behind cover.
Meanwhile a gnoll strides out into the open. Planting its feet, it growls and slobbers at you, daring you to come and get it. It appears it is tired of waiting.
AC28(32)/Touch21(23)/Flat21(23)/CMD30(32)(34 vs bull rush and trip)||HP69[69]|Fort:+10;Ref:+15(+17);Will:+6(+5)|Percept+17(+19 stonework)|Init:+7| SR14 Dwarf Gunslinger (Musket Master) 6 Alchemist (Grenadier) 4
Hearing Mik's warning become more urgent, Ryster abandons his position and clambers onto the boulder to his west, dropping his pack at its base beforehand.
Climb:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Looking where indicated, he thinks he might see the ground bulge. "There must be like a million of those things down there!"
Shooting at the gnoll again (assuming gnoll 3?), Roland is satisfied to see the creature fall to its knees and expire.
Similarly, after an assault of feathers and beaks, the 2nd gnoll also falls down! Alas, the final (first?) gnoll seems to ward off the birds' attacks.
Ryster scrambles onto the rocks, wondering what the hell is happening. 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 But still sees nothing unusual.
The final standing gnoll jabs at an eagle with his spear.
1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 - 1 = 5 1d8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 3 = 11
But the spear gets caught on something or some other excuse and comes nowhere near the bird.
As Elena looks at the ground, she sees the shifting of the sands. She scrambles up just in time to see the sand move toward her and five tentacles reaching out for her on the rock.
Deciding to leave the gnoll business to the eagles (although he is bitterly depressed at how competent Ouroboreia's summons are in comparison to his useless sea eagle), Mikhaere sprints across the sands to help out Elena.
Can I see the creature, or is it below the sands reaching up?
If yes:
The spinning, roiling orb of sun-fire returns from its orbit around the gnoll corpse and gently rests on his hand. Mikhaere wastes no time lobbing it at whatever sand denizen he'd been seeing the traces of all along.
Guilford, it's a Dust Digger, a tremendous starfish-like creature, its five long arms surrounding a circular toothy maw. You have two questions about it. Go!
Knowledge (Dungeoneering):1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20I surmise that's one question. If Guilford's Resistance/Immunities counts as two, I'll ask the other one. If not, I'd like to know what special attacks this creature has.[/dice]
The two eagles at the north focus on the gnoll to kill it, whereas the two victorious eagles fall down on the dust digger.
Ouroboreia moves back to safety and casts grease on Elena's armor, hoping it can help her to get away from the creature's grasp.
Elena, that gives you a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to your CMD to avoid being grappled.
I don't think the eagles that attacked the dust digger can full attack... they don't have pounce or anything.
Also, this is kind of late, but I think you should only have 3 eagles. You used SM2, which gives you 1d3 from the lower level list... unless you have some feature I'm not sure of.
Adjusted to just have the beak hit, and as it's primary, the hit does an additional point of damage. One point of damage? WHEEEEeeee... Okay, been watching too much Gamers.
And with a single well-aimed shot from his bow, Roland puts down the sand creature before it has a chance to eat anyone!
The final gnoll, seeing its allies all put down and his pet felled, turns tail and flees. Full withdrawal to the northwest, only one AoO from one of the birds. Otherwise...
Out of Combat!
People sure do like to run away from you, don't they?
In the desert light, you notice a weathered, partially buried marker about 100 feet west of the oasis matches the description in Grandmaster Torch’s notes. Despite the angle of the sun, its shadow points off to the northwest.
Having cleared out the oasis and found the trail which you previously avoided, you have a safe place to rest and wallow in water; whatever suits your fancy. Or you may head off towards Seeker's Folly. Your call.
Mikhaere has a quick rummage around the gnoll corpses before he goes and wallows in the mud of the oasis for a little while. He's ready to leave whenever the party seems ready (albeit reluctantly; the water is so nice...)
"Thanks for the assist people..that could have gone real bad..real fast. If we need water...I can produce a few gallons of it with a simple spell if needed"
Elena checks the remaining (dead) gnolls for loot and hints on why it was ambushing us (other then on general principle)
AC28(32)/Touch21(23)/Flat21(23)/CMD30(32)(34 vs bull rush and trip)||HP69[69]|Fort:+10;Ref:+15(+17);Will:+6(+5)|Percept+17(+19 stonework)|Init:+7| SR14 Dwarf Gunslinger (Musket Master) 6 Alchemist (Grenadier) 4
Ryster nods to Roland while quietly grumbling about his "damnable" gun. Moving over to the water, he sets his firearm and ammunition a safe distance away before getting on his hands and knees to drink. "What ya all think? Move on?"
The gnolls do not have anything beyond ragtag armor, a makeshift shield, and a few spears each. However, upon surveying the area, you find a small poorly hidden cache near where they were hiding. Within contains the prizes of their previous plunders. You can auto-identify these, so will simply tell you what they are. There is an alchemy crafting kit, a vial of antitoxin, two flasks of alchemist’s fire, two flasks of liquid ice, a potion of blur, and a potion of haste. There is also a silver cup (mundane) and a collection of coins.
The water of the oasis is clear and surprisingly cool. From whence it flows is anybody's guess. But you may wish to drink of it before the swamp druid starts murking it up.
Following the bearing from the map, which still coincides with the unmoving shadow of the marker, is uneventful with only the rise and fall of the dunes to break the monotony. A low, uneven hill of granite appears on the horizon to the northwest, presenting the only shelter for miles around. Although the crag appears solid from a distance, on closer examination there is a wide fissure in the rock sealed by a heavily weathered stone wall fitted with a large iron door.
Looking at the gates, no traps nor magical warding can be seen. Just the tall 30 foot high wall which goes into the higher rockfaces on either side. The massive gates themselves seem to have been buried a little bit by sandstorms, but not overly insurmountable.
Seeing as though he's no doubt going to be taking the lead yet again, Mikhaere takes a moment to protect himself. Reaching down, he gathers up a handful of pebbles and other rocks, rolling them around in his clawed hands while muttering strange prayers. As he chants, a stony texture seems to surround his legs and claws--the only parts of him not totally covered by feathers. He then draws out a mangrove-root wand from within his belongings and taps it on his shoulder before replacing it; for a moment, snaking vines spread out from the wand's tip and encircle him before disappearing.
Casting barkskin on myself, +2 AC for the next 40 minutes. Also casting longstrider on myself, +10 feet movement speed for the next hour.
Elena will cast guidance on herself, Roland and Mikhaere (seems we'll be the ones who will try to push open the door. I guess Roland for primairy and myself and Mikhaere as assists)
Assist strength check to push open the door:1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 + 1 = 12
