The Children of the Hollow (Inactive)

Game Master Azih

"Children, remain here in the hallway with me while the others explore this room further. There is nothing in there you would want to see, trust me!"

A white glow fades from Aelerie's outstretched finger, the spell she was casting dying on her lips almost as quickly as the ghouls were dispatched. "Well... That was easier than I thought it would be." Stepping just inside the room, she feels the blood drain from her face at the gruesome scene. Steeling herself for the sake of the children behind her, she looks around for a path relatively clear of gore and offal so she can lead the kids through the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Unfortunately Aeleire doesn't see any route that could be called clear of viscera. It seems this has been the ghoul's lair for quite a long while.

Looking at the map again, is there a passage from this room or is it just a side room from the hall? Map is a bit small for me, so it's hard to tell.

Albus grimaces when his shots miss then is shocked at the speed with which Javell and Laro clear the room.

"Great showing. That was quick."

Recover Arrow: 1d100 ⇒ 59

Recover Arrow: 1d100 ⇒ 57

Albus then searches the room carefully and set to the grisly task of checking out the horrid corpse both of former dwarves and recently deceased kobolds.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

If nothing of note exists then he will suggest moving on.

There's one door on the eastern side of the room and that's the only other exit

Cross posting from discussion tab.

Other than the recently deceased kobold and the dead piles of ghoul flesh all Albus finds of interest is a door to the east.

"Gods, I almost lost my lunch there. Let's get out of here quickly." Laro says as he moves over to the door and examines it for traps and to see if its locked.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Disable Device: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Javell retrieves his starknife and dagger, then returns to guard the children.
"Well, that was easy. Lady Luck has smiled upon us today. We must keep moving, there is still much to do."
The woodsman looks around the room one last time as he follows the group into the next room.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

The group decides to move as quickly as possible through the horrible room. Whisper and the kobolds need to be prodded a bit to not bolt away from the horrific stench of the place but they follow along. The kobolds especially seem to be awed by how quickly the group had eliminated the terrible dead flesh dwarves that had preyed on their tribe for so long.

Kimi makes sure that the other two kids keep their eyes closed as they shuffle along. Mika especially is shaking but Savra seems to be less terrified than even Kimi.

Laro doesn't find anything interesting about the door except that it is heavy. He pulls it open...

And finds two kobolds staring right at the opening door. They quake and dive behind a 10 foot diameter well. Directly over the well a long chain feeds through a complex pulley system before disappearing into the depths.

Albus strides forward toward the well calling out. "Do as you are told and you will not be harmed. Come out from behind there. The evil bad dead dwarf things are kill kill forever. No fear them anymore." Albus is laboring a bit to talk simple to the creatures.

If they come out, "What do you know of small soft ones taken by Great King?"

I know we take them back to Great King with your corpse Softskin Huuuuman comes a growl in Draconic from the south passage as Albus strides in.

Standing at the mouth of the passage is a well armed kobold with dark scales staring straight at Albus. The ranger has walked into a trap!

KILL KILL! screams the kobold and out of the well jump two bloodscales and one lower ranked soldier. The two kobolds hiding behind the well pop up and fire stones at Albus from their slings

Sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Sling damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

One of them beans Albus in the head while the other clatters off his armor.

Then the dark scaled kobold from the south heaves his Javelin at Albus.

Javelin: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

It is well aimed and pierces through Albus' armor on one side.

Albus Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Aside from the pain Albus feels a bit... dizzy as well.

Surprise Round Done! Not on your side I'm afraid. Albus takes 7 HP damage and 1 Dex damage

Round One, Party has initiative. Setup is there are two bloodscales and three regular kobolds standing around the well. The bloodcales and one kobold are in front of the well and two are behind (so have cover). These can be seen and can be attacked by range from the ghoul room. Only Albus can see the dark scaled kobold to the south and that one can only be targeted from inside the room. Party UP!

I messed up! Albus thinks to himself. "Inheritor and Deadeye aid me."

No wanting to block the others, Albus moves to a position that engages as few of the ones at the well as he can but still involves them so to reduce the likely hood of being hit with ranged fire. Also he grabs his axe as he moves and swings it defensively about.

Albus goes to total defense gaining 4 to AC.

"I count six hostiles, 5 at well, one hard to see at the south."

"Ohhhh. Sorry Albus, but glad that wasn't me.", Laro says as he moves to the south and attacks.

Not sure if I can move and engage the dark on to the south. If not I engage the southernmost at the well.

Short Sword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Short Sword Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

When Albus starts using military terms, Javell replies almost on autopilot, "Engaging hostiles to my north, withdraw and rejoin ranks." He charges forward, trying to get close to the ranger and, as always, throws his primary weapon away the first chance he gets to no effect.
(He aims for the kobolds closest to Albus, mind you. Not that it mattered)
Startoss Comet, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 1 = 81d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15
However, he draws close to his ally and draws a dagger, ready to fend off the kobolds attacking.

Virdel opens with his standard invocation of blessing on the group.

Seeing the kobolds mercilessly attack Albus, Aelerie's fear of losing control of her powers is overridden by fear of seeing her friend in danger. Calling for help from the planes once more, Aelerie summons 1d3 ⇒ 3 celestial eagles to form ranks in front of Albus and Javell.

Spending 2 points from Arcane Reservoir to cast summon monster II for three eagles. Stat block is in the alias.

While Albus goes full defense and Javell moves up to give him support Laro dashes in and deals a severe blow to the dark scaled one to the south. Blood spurts out from the kobold as the two similarly sized combatant face off against each other. Astoundingly though Laro's stab doesn't bring the kobold down and it hisses at Laro through the pain.

As Virdel's blessing spreads through the party Aelerie's magic brings forth a far more familiar magical ally. A lot more of them in fact. Three eagles come into shimmering being and immediately start to attack the three kobolds in front of the well.

Only one eagle manages to get through the wily defenses of the kobold's but it does so with a vicious efficiency that leaves one of the regular kobolds dead.

The kobolds retaliate. First the dark scaled one steps back to attck Laro with his exotic flying talon weapon.

Dark Scale: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

But the shock of Laro's hard stab causes the leader of this band of kobolds to miss.

Up at the well the appearance of a lot of flying enemies causes the kobolds some panic

Fly Fly kill Mumpo, Kill Fly Fly!

The bloodscales act first, stabbing at the eagles with their spears

Spear: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Spear: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Spear damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Eagle fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

One of the eagle suffers a wound on its wing. It sill flies though and shrugs off the poison coating the spear.

Then the slingers from the back have their go.

Sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Their aim is true but they only cause minor wounds to the eagles they're targeting.

Which Eagle?: 2d3 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

They hit different eagles, leaving one wounded by the spear while the other two have the most minor of wounds.

As the battle continues Albus feels kobold poison coursing through his veins.

Albus Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

He's unable to shrug off the effects however

Albus take another point of Dex damage

The eagles close in on the bloodscales. They're unable to flank however as the kobolds have their backs to the wall.

But they can't get through the bloodscales training and armor.

Setup: One kobold is dead at the well. The two bloodscales and two slingers are unhurt. Ablus and Javell are just in the well room while ahead of them are three wounded eagles facing of against the bloodscales. The eagles have the kobolds pretty decently hemmed in against the well . Laro is further in the room facing off against a bleeding darkscale. Eagles have taken their turn otherwise Round two PARTY UP!

Albus is a tad confused by Javell order. Withdraw and join reserves or healers would make sense or join the ranks forming a battleline to guard the support forces. Too many enemies, and nowhere is safe.

If he can without drawing a AOO Albus will move closer to Javell and maintain the battle-line, otherwise remaining in place.

Albus attacks a kobold, choosing, in order, first nearest, if more than one a wounded warrior, and, lastly if both those conditions are met or N/A then a bloodscale.

"Attempting safe withdraw to battle ranks, attacking."

Greataxe attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 23 To hit target. Critical on a 20. Bless, Power Attack

Great axe damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 Damage Power Attack

Great axe Critical confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 7 To confirm a critical if rolled. Bless, Power Attack

Great axe Critical damage: 2d12 + 14 ⇒ (1, 6) + 14 = 21 Damage from critical.

Didnt the second sling threaten a critical?

Javell whips a dagger at the closest slinger
Startoss Comet, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 131d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12
But the darkness obscures whether or not it hits.
Startoss Comet, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 101d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14
The ricochet definitely misses, though.

Ohh right. Got messed up in figuring out which eagle got hit to remember the crit.

Sling Crit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Extra Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The third eagle looks significantly more hurt than it did at first glance.

Virdel attempts to maneuver into a spot where he can see the slingers and looses a bolt at one of them.

crossbow+bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Albus' axe deals a grevious, though not fatal, wound to one of the bloodscales.

Javell's aim is off as another starknife misses its mark.

Virdel's ever improving marksmanship is shown as he manages to hit one of the kobolds in the back even though it's ducking behind cover.

Bitterly cold winds whip around Aelerie and ice crystals can be seen dancing between her hands as she chants an incantation. "Lunta ja jäätä minun käskyni, jäädytetty kuolema on nyt käsillä." A razor-sharp shard of ice coalesces in midair as the spell finishes, spinning tranquilly for a moment before speeding toward one of the uninjured bloodscales.

Snowball (Ranged Touch, Bless, Into Melee): 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 18
Cold Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 2) = 12 (DC 17 Fort save or staggered for 1 round.)

Laro steps forward and attacks the kobold with both his short swords.

Short Sword TWF 1: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 = 18 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Short Sword TWF 2: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Thanks for all of your prayers and well wishes. I've got a laptop now and will be able to sneak in a post occasionally. We're still in the hospital. They say my son will be for about 2 weeks.

Kobold Fort Snowball: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

In the south passage Laro's attacks are swift and sure but the dark scaled kobold neatly sidesteps one and parries the other

Lucky stab stab not enough to kill me soft skin it hisses through its pain. It drops its talon and stabs Laro with a spear.

Dark Scale: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Laro Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

It doesn't do much damage but Laro feels the effects of the poison making him a little dizzy.

Take 2 hp damage and 1 Dex damage Laro

Meanwhile back at the well the bloodscale hurt by Albus' axe tries to take the wielder down while the other, shrugging off the freezing cold of Aelerie's attack stabs out at an eagle.

Spear Albus: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Spear Eagle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Their superior training seems to come into play as, despite being nearly dead, they score hits on their adversaries.

Albus damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Eagle damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

One of the wounded eagles vanishes in a pulse of light as the kobold stabs through it while Albus suffers a cut on his shin.

Take 4 hp damage Albus

The slingers continue to follow their orders by slinging rocks at the two remaning eagles

Sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

One of them hits

Eagle Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Which eagle: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Almost but not quite taking down the less wounded of the surviving eagles.

Albus Round 3 save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Laro Round 3 save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

As the battle rages on Albus manages to shake off the effects of the poison while Laro still feels it working on him.
One more Dex damage Laro

The two remaining eagles lash out at the bloodscales.

They are outclassed however as not even one of their attacks land on the higher ranks of the Truescale Tribe's warriors.

Setup: The two bloodscales look almost dead and are hemmed in at the well by Albus and the two remaning eagles who also look nearly dead. One of the two slingers is hurt. Javell is just in the well room. Laro is further in the room facing off against a bleeding darkscale. Eagles have taken their turn otherwise Round three PARTY UP!

Javell steps up closer than his target and spins another dagger at the wounded slinger, hoping to finish it off, "Belay. Continue assault. Engaging slinger targets."
Startoss Comet, Bless, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 1 + 1 = 191d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12
It cuts through the first kobold, arcing into the uninjured slinger.
Startoss Comet, Bless, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 1 + 1 = 241d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14

Virdel will fire again at the same slinger.

If it's dead now, the other slinger. If that's dead, whichever darkscale would give me the least cover penalty.

crossbow+bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Unfortunately the cover provided by the well protects the slingers from both Javell's knife and Virdel's bolt.

Could I have stepped into a position with my move action that would uncover them?

Not as a five foot step. But you can move to the south passage and have a clear shot as a move action. That'll also get you closer to the darkscale one Laro is fighting. Do you want to do that instead?

A circle of violet runes pulse around Aelerie's outstretched hand. "Maagiset ohjukset löytävät viholliseni." Two missiles of arcane force shoot out from the runes, striking unerringly at the two bloodscales with the sound of shattering glass.

Magic Missile (Aelerie's Kobold): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Magic Missile (Albus's Kobold): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Aelerie's arcane magic smashes into both red scaled ones at the exact same moment throwing them back into the wall of the well. Their heads snap back and they slump down into heaps, deathly still.

Yes, Startoss is only a standard action.

Javell dashes into the room to circumvent the slinger's protective cover and, coming to a stop with a skid, whips one of his daggers, side handed, right into the throat of the first slinger. It rips right through the first kobold and curves to come to a stop with a thunk right between the eyes of the second.

Both collapse into so much meat.

Seeing his entire group fall apart the injured darkscale yells at the door to the south in his draconic tongue MYSTIC! Kerrdremak! Come Come! Defend Warren!

Albus and Laro to go.

Unless I missed something, the darkscale only hit an ac of 12 and mine is 19 so I wouldn't have taken any damage. If he did hit somehow subtract 1 from my hit and dam.

Laro strikes out at the kobold after his warning. "Guess we have to deal with politics anyway."

Short Sword TWF 1: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Short Sword TWF 2: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 = 24 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Short Sword TWF 2 Crit confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Whoops Laro is right and unhurt with no Dex damage. So many rolls!

Laro neatly deflects the poison tipped spear that was jabbed his way with a swing of one of his swords while the other stabs deeply into the dark scaled one's gut.

It squirms and writhes on Laro's blade but finally slumps, dead, hissing until its very end.

The door to the south opens. There stands, in a very fancy fur hat, what must be the Mystic Kerrdremak. He looks at the dead darkscale impaled on a halfling's sword. His eyes flick up to look deeper into the room at the many, many, dead and dying kobolds scattered in their own blood around the well. His gaze flits over the flying shiny birds and the giants with axes and throwing stab stabs and finally he meets Laro's gaze as the darkscale slides, dead, off his sword.

run Run RUn RUN! he shrieks in Draconic and there's a great clatter as the Mystic, and every last kobold in the room, scatter from the room. Some head south, some head west, but all of them move very very fast.

Combat Over

You guys are welcome to look at the Damage Tracker. Please let me know of any mistakes.

To the east of the well room the finished and polished dwarven stone gives way to a crude unfinished dirt tunnel. To the south is a room where the Mystic was holding his grumbling court.

Your kobolds creep into the room. Lukko seems to be a bit distressed and all the dead kobold soldiers. That Dark Talon he says pointing at the dark scaled one. That King guard! Some ride slurks

Jerrdameg points to well Way down to Warren home home

The children also walk into the room. Mikra and Savra look like they might be sick at all the blood but Kimi looks around with shining eyes before her eyes light on the tunnel to the east There, I think the thing that took Jurin came from there

Kibbo quails That where burning chain dwarf live! Kobolds no go there!

Whisper sniffs at the corpses, glad to wash the smell of ghoul corpse out of his nostrils. He's pretty full at the moment though so he looks up at the rest of you with a quizzical expression.

Albus shakes off the moment of paralysis from the poison as the battle comes to an end.

"Good show everyone, that went better as well, we're beginning to work as a team. Still the Mystic and others have escaped to warn others. Let's get the burning one."

To the kobolds, "Wherever a child of ours is held we go! Till all are back. Though the Whiny Mystic seem to be a good Running Away Mystic, I assume he will run to the Great King's Protection?"

Albus picks up Whisper and comforts him or himself hard to tell.

To all, "Well we must go there, like it or not"

Lukko says Only way to Great King is down well. Mystic flee away. Think he no come back soon.

Laro nods to Albus "Yes indeed. Good job all. I'll head down this hall a little bit when we are ready and see if I can find the chain dwarf."

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Unlike the rest of this level, this area features rough stone and undressed rock reminiscent of a mine shaft. The tunnels divide and rejoin several times, making it difficult to maintain a sense of direction. Compounding this confusion, thick acrid smoke fills these tunnels, making it difficult to see anything beyond a few feet.

Laro creeps forward though using the smoke as a cover.

Just as Laro gets to the part of the tunnel where it turns from heading east to heading north he spots a four legged beast standing five feet tall that looks vaguely dog like. It would look more like a dog if it didn't have demonic looking spikes jutting out of its back and what looks like flames training out of it's mouth. Laro has no idea what it is!

It seems to spot you at almost exactly the same time!

Round One. Party gets the edge! Laro is 20 feet into the tunnel, pretty much where it curves north. 10 feet away from him to the north is the dog. Everybody else is in standard marching order but at the mouth of this new tunnel. Tunnel is very smoky so everyone has concealment. roll 1d100 with every attack. 21 or above is a hit. Party up.

Aelerie creeps forward through the tunnel once Laro has nearly disappeared around the bend, breathing shallowly so she doesn't choke on the smoke. Spotting the fiery creature through the smoke, Aelerie tries to identify it even as she starts to work her magic.

Knowledge: 1d20 ⇒ 2
+9 modifier for Dungeoneering, Engineering, Geography, History and Nature, +10 for Local, Planes and Religion, and +11 for Arcana; can also take 10 for Arcana even when threatened.

Snowball (Ranged Touch): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Cold Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 1) = 8 (DC 17 Fort save or staggered for 1 round)
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 86
Snowball (Confirm Critical): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Cold Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 2) = 8

Are my eagles still in play, or has it been three minutes since we fought the kobolds in the last room?

Unfortunately Aelerie's prodigous knowledge fails her about this new threat. It's almost certainly not of this world though.

Let's say they've got a minute left to them.

While she doesn't know what this threat is it certainly does *not* seem to like the freezing cold magic that it's assaulted by.

Following her, Aelerie's celestial helpers move into the fray. There's not enough space to flank, though they do manage to block the hellhound's way in the narrow tunnels. The two in front bite at the hound.

Eagle: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Eagle: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

They aren't able to get through the hound's defenses but the way they screech seems to indicate that the eagles are very angry at the hound's very existence. Same is true for the ruby in Aelerie's hand actually. It pulses with anger.

Albus still hurting from the previous counters goes slowly from well behind Laro, at sight of the enemy his switches to his bow. If he has line of sight he will fire an arrow at the creature.

Longbow attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Normal arrows, arrow attack, threatens critical on 20.

Longbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2 Longbow damage

Longbow attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Normal arrows, arrow attack, confirm threat.

Critical longbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5 Critical damage.

Hitting in mist: 1d100 ⇒ 23 High is good.

Sorry massive failure to close the dice correctly. No matter a miss anyway unless it's a statue.

Bless should have a few rounds left too then.

Virdel tries to maneuver for a clean shot at the horrible creature.

crossbow+bless-into melee-cover: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 - 4 - 4 = 3
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
miss chance high good: 1d100 ⇒ 31

Both Virdel's bolt and Albus' arrow miss the hound.

BTW, considering how smoky the place is and the curve of the tunnel, all of you had to move fairly deep into the tunnel to get a shot at the dog.

Laro moves up behind the eagles and waits for a chance to get in to attack the creature.

Javell moves as close as he dares, flinging his glowing starknife at the dog.

Deadly Aim, Bless: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 1 + 1 = 191d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15

Javell miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 23

Javell's dagger flies true through despite the smoke and slams into the hound causing an infernal yowl to come from the beastly animal's maw.

As it does so the hound breathes out a cone of flame that envelops the eagles, Laro and Javell.

Flame attack: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9

Both eagles, suffering from wounds already, have no chance to survive the burning attack and vanish under the assault.

Laro Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Javell Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Laro nimbly dodges out of the way of the assault while Javell manages to avoid the worst of it.

Javell take 4 fire damage

Having done this the Hell hound moves back from the narrow passage it was blocking and out of line of sight.

Setup: Basically the hound was just in front of the narrowest part of the tunnels where the passage almost pinches together. Ranged characters had diagonal line of sight to it from the wider part of the tunnel around the white outcroppings of stone. It has moved back out of sight. Laro and Javell are closest but, aside from Virdel, you're all one move action away from following it around the corner. Round Two Party up! But there's no enemy in sight!

The gem in Aelerie's hand is really pulsing now.

Did it make its save vs Aelerie's snowball? *Fingers crossed*