White light, while it is not conducive for skulking about, does an amazing job of warding off the shadows.
An exhausted Nogglegrop, having expelled a great deal of his reserves in spell form, moves to the back wall and empties fluids that he would rather not think about from the legs of his armour. The gnome slides noisily down the wall, and remains in a sitting position, with his eyes fixes far beyond the chamber, while he processes what just transpired.
"The murderer behind this needs to pay for the indignity of..." He does not finish his sentence, having only the energy to throw his tiny thumb toward the room on the other side of the wall he leans upon.
Nogglegrop rolls around the word in his mouth, "Justis." He nods to himself, agreeing that saving a child was something worth dying for.
There's screaming, and Gwendalyn can't tell where anyone is anymore, and then she gets her sight back and the gnolls are gone, except for one fresh corpse over by the stalagmite. She looks around, and they appear to all be in one piece, more or less. Enough for Revery to joke. "Well, you'd be less of a pincushion if only you had armor of some kind, or at least an armor spell. And just so you know, I'm out of magic until we get a chance to rest."
She ponders Kwen's revelations and the chasm in front of them. "Before we can help anyone else, we have to get to the other side. So we need for someone who is light and has good balance to go across, and then kind of weave all the remaining boards together. They can use my rope. That way, weight placed anywhere on one board would be spread across all." The Northwoman begins finally lighting her lantern, now that she can see where it is and she isn't under attack.
1/50 mana, 45/45 hp
Sajeek walks over and picks up the spear he had dropped before the battle had been joined. Straightening up with a grunt of pain, the vah shir checks his wounds. His bit of healing had taking him out of the realm of bleeding to death.
Peeking over the edge of the chasm, he sighs. His ear flicker and swivel towards Kwen as he begins to tell the others what he had discovered. Sajeek clenches his fists unconsciously. While he was glad to know that it hadn't been his imagination, the vah shir almost shook with anger.
Breathing deeply and closing his eyes, Sajeek tries to let his rage ebb away somewhat. As it stood at the moment, he was too angry to think clearly. Managing to get his temper back under control, Sajeek's tail stops lashing about, trying to slice apart the air.
"I need to stop letting you guys play with my stuff. It seems to be the reason I can't have nice things," Sajeek grins looking over his gore splattered friends. "And there is only the one piece of lumber left. The others went to visit my lantern." The Beastlord points down into the chasm.
The vah shir feels like curling up and taking a map. His various teachers had all warned about the dangers of using up mana rapidly. That your body will end up having to pay the price. Not including the pain from his cuts and javelin wounds, Sajeek felt like he had been run over by a one ton wagon.
"Your right Kwen and Noggy, we need to get her out of her cage. And while we are at it, we do have the heart ripper's bones to break into very little pieces." The smile that cuts the vah shir's muzzle could only be described as savage.
Looking over at Rev, Sajeek nods to the enchanter.
"Good ears, by the way."
Thinking for a second, Sajeek turns his gaze over to Kwen.
"Do you think you could widen the hole to get her out? Or did the wall seem too solid?" The Beastlord asks of the half-elf. Looking at the plank that is loosely managing to stay in place, Sajeek straightens it, so that it will not plummet like the rest that once made up a crude bridge.
The chasm stretches down far beyond the stabbing white light of the magical stone. Watching a drop of water descend from the ceiling's tiny stalactite gives the impression of at least a 70' drop before it finds the jagged teeth of the bottom.
A single board crosses the expanse, but finds a few of its friends lounging about on the other side.
It will take hours and hours to regain the group's spell energies, which is time they may not have available to them if the gnolls return.
(Kwen & Revery: please update your hit points and mana in your next post)
Looking at the the single plank, ans seeing a few more on the other side, Sajeek grins.
"Okay, I'm blind. You were right Gwen, there are more planks over on the other side," the vah shir grins over his shoulder at the barbarian woman.
"Sooooo, Kwen," Sajeek looks over at the rogue and grins, "I'm betting that you would love to be the one to cross the plank first, wouldn't you? Being all graceful and whatnot. Not that I'm jealous or anything." Sajeek sniffs, lifting his head slightly and looking down his muzzle, assuming a haughty expression.
Chuckling, he winks at the rogue.
"No, seriously. Cross the planks because the rest of us will probably fall off." Bast growls in the background. "Well, not him, but he has the advantage of extra legs," Sajeek says with a shrug.
"I know we're all tired and beat. And covered in ick. But, I think we should press on a little bit. Especially, if Kwen says that we can't get through the wall. Also, if we need to rest, we can't do it here. The dog faces might come back." The vah shir nods to his friends.
Nogglegrop tiredly gets to his feet, draws his little mace, and moves to the edge of the pit.
"Before anyone crosses let's please tie a rope around their waist."
"Oh. That's a really, really good idea, Noggy," Sajeek looks over at his tired friend and grins. "That's why you get paid the big monies." The tired Beastlord chuckles.
"Oh sure, now the elven part of my heritage comes into play... for Everyone's ELSE benifit." Kwen says with mock outrage in his voice, along with a look of anger on his face. It lasts only for a few heartbeats then,a grin appears on his face " Sure I'll go and take a chance on crossing the pesky board. I do like the idea of tying a rope around my waist, less chance I'll have at falling to my doom." His eyes twinkle with humor.
"Gwen, I don't know too much about stone work, I think we would need a pickaxe to breach the floor/wall. Also it is a tight squeeze, even for me, there were spots that I had to hold my breath and breathe very shallowly. No way could all of us fit in there, I mean Bast would need to go on a power diet for like.... 6 months before he could fit his paws in there." The Rogue smiles, bowing to the tiger, then says " So I can see in the dark nicely, or rather I can see the heat that a person or thing produces in the dark. Who wants to hold onto the new torch that we are borrowing from Justis?" He asks, thinking that he didn't want to lead the party with the target cone of light on him.
Glad that the others so far agree with him, Kwen feels hope that things will go well for the group, as upon arriving here and running to the ‘rescue’, then climbing down onto a mountain of corpses, followed by finding a girl alive. Of course having to run to the rescue of the party, against a group of gnolls was another setback. The group’s luck had to change for the better sometime this week
Once the rope has been secured on the rogue, and someone is holding on to the rope Kwen will slowly go across, taking his time to keep his balance, and to hopefully, ease the pressure that his weight would be adding to the possibly weakened hunk of lumber.
Balance check
Revery looks around, and color returns to his face as he walks around.
He looks at the chasm, judging the nearest two points for a jump. Probably walking over is the best bet, he thinks. Too bad he couldn't get his pet to fix the planks for them.
"Yes, we need to find a way to get back around to where Justice? is, hopefully without encountering more of those Gnolls. Perhaps that door will lead us where we want to go. But we should be more careful now. Kwen, I can make you invisible after we cross, if you're willing to be our scout. And Gwendalyn, I can hold the lantern. Best to have two light sources... "
He looks at Kwen and walks over to take a look at his new light source, wondering what it is.
Knowledge/Mysticism
"Of course, if you're invisible, carrying that around won't help you a lot."
(Mana: 33/90, hp: 30/35)
Gwendalyn tries to picture it, and reconsiders her initial proposal before Kwen crosses over. "Actually... Yes, a rope on you would be good. But then it would probably be better if you pass us the boards one at a time, and then we weave them together over here. I'm just not sure you weigh enough to lever them all into place by yourself."
"We're not building a spirit bleeding bridge. We need something sturdy enough to cross over once or twice. I think putting a few boards next to each so that they are touching should be good." Sajeek says looking back at the others. "Cause staying here longer is dumb. The dog-faces know where we are, and I really doubt that they were the only three down here. For all we know we just fell into their larder." Sajeek lowers his voice. "We need to move."
"Kwen, get your dainty elven ass moving. I don't want to be dog food," Sajeek says, looking at the rope still tied to the rogue.
Using the rope as an occasional hand hold to help guide him, Sajeek crosses the chasm spanning plank.
Picking his way across, Sajeek heads to where the gnolls had fled, stopping at the edge of the pure white light. A flash of annoyance hits him as the darkness steals his vision. He could really use his lantern right about now.
"I'll keep watch, you get those planks down."
Javelins lay about the area, with splatters of blood revealing their impacts, as does the gnoll's untouched gear.
Within the tight confines of the tunnel, that lead to the privies, it would be very difficult to swing a pick. Even if the pick could be swung, and the bits of stone transported out, and not taking into account the kidnapper hearing what you were doing, it was very strong worked stone that jutted into the natural stone of the tunnel. Getting it big enough for Justis to escape would only work if one was able to get the distant lock open.
Revery determines of the lightsource that it was a fey creature, a willowisp, that has died and continues to give off a bright white light.
Kwen hears an ominous creak as soon as he steps on the board. His years of scampering across ledge tops teaches him wisdom in not pressing his luck. Removing gear he is able to just barely get across, though in the middle he has a moment to enjoy regaining his balance using the advanced arm windmilling technique, and find his feet on the other side's terra firma (DC 15 balance check to get across).
The newest member of the group proves his worth yet again, as he fills in holes that had previously been left gaping.
The naked Nogglegrop, an odd choice since even fully armoured he is lighter than anyone else...perhaps he just likes streaking through dungeons, waits for Kwen to be braced and ready to take his weight before starting across. He also has a moment of interpretive dance to avoid falling in the chasm, but is able to run the last little bit and tumble awkwardly at the rogue's feet. Looking up he smiles, "Uhm, hi." There is wisdom in the gnome, and perhaps it was not a penchant for nudity that drove him, since his armour restricts his movements.
Balance (Nogglegrop): (bare success)
Nogglegrop dresses on the other side and offers his strength to the rogue awaiting the next member to cross.
The naked Sajeek speeds across the first plank that Kwen puts down next to the gnoll-placed plank with agility akin to a cat (balance success vs. DC 13). There is much in the way of creaking, but the boards are holding up.
With a few other boards laid next to one another it is an easier go of it (DC 10 balance check). The heavier members of the party will need to strip down to their bareness to not push their luck. It is not a comfortable proposition, considering the potential forces arraying against them, but neither is jumping across the pit.
Bast will need to jump. The boards are not even close to strong enough to carry the kejek tiger's mass.
"Damn it," Sajeek says crossly, looking at the gore cover mess of gear of his gear. He would almost rather stay naked. However, since he would rather not rub up against a sharp pointy object, he sighs and redresses.
"Crap. I'm an idiot," the young vah shir shakes his head. "Sorry, Gwen, could toss over the dog-faces javelins before you cross?" Sajeek asks as he tugs on his leather armor. The vah shir's muzzle wrinkled in disgust at the smell and wet feeling. "And we'll hold onto the rope for when you and Rev cross, you can tie it around your waists."
Looking over at Bast, Sajeek calls to his warder.
"Come on Bast, you can jump it," the Beastlord encourages the big tiger.
Getting a running start, Bast races towards the edge of the chasm. Leaping with the natural grace that felines are born with, the big reddish-orange tiger takes to the air.
Bast's claws find purchase in the stone and easily clears the expanse, landing over 20' beyond where he had initially left the ground.
Biting his lip as the others cross, Revery searches the dead gnoll for anything that might be of value to the group. Anything heavy he finds is potentially thrown across the gap. Soon it is his turn to cross, and he knows he is not too athletic, and he realizes he doesn't have time to construct a better way to cross.
So he tosses over his own javelins and club, ties the rope around his chest, under his arms, and makes sure someone is holding it securely. Then he starts across the boards.
Balance:
"Uh... sure." Gwendalyn has terrible aim, but she just needs to get the javelins across the chasm, so she tosses them over in a series of underhand lobs, followed by her armor, weapons, and backpack. She looks dubiously at the boards while she ties the rope around her chest, copying Revery. "I'm not sure that they'll hold me. Make sure you're all holding on tight! Ready?" When it looks like they're all prepared to catch her if she falls, the sturdy Northwoman heads across the boards.
Revery surprisingly, especially to himself, scampers across the expanse like a ring-tailed lemur.
Gwendalyn maintains her balance, though there are a few cracks that make one wonder if they wish to use the boards again, after she safely gets to the other side.
You stand on the east side of the chasm.
The room is erratic, but is approximately 10' wide and 17' long. In the east wall is a locked wooden door, and the east side of the north wall has a tunnel peeking around a large stalagmite. It is this tunnel that the gnolls ran up.
Far down this tunnel there is the occasional sound of metal lightly scraping against stone.
Kwen gives a chuckle, then collects his gear, glad that he was over with trying to get across the 'bridge'. Handing over Wisp to Revery he says " Well being invisible would be nice, as long as you are holding onto the source of light, or Sajeek. As long as it doesn't task your mana too much that is, I will scout ahead 50 feet and make sure that there isn't any traps or another ambush lying in wait."
Revery takes the will-o-wisp husk and looks for a convenient way to hold it. He gathers up the weapons he had tossed across.
He casts his Invisibilty spell on Kwen, hoping it lasts a while at least.
(mana: 28/90)
Light shifts and warps, fooling the visual senses of the living creatures into not seeing Kwen.
The willowisp corpse is cool to the touch and as easy to carry as a smooth, round 1 pound stone.
Kwen needs to determine which direction he is scouting in. The voice of his master echoes in his head regarding the short lifespan of scouts. Those that are foolish enough to wander ahead, traipsing into the lair of monsters alone, tend to recognize how fragile they are.
"Kwen, don't go so far out. Maybe half that distance, so that we can catch up to you quickly. Or so that you get back to us." The hushed voice of the vah shir is heard from beside Bast. Sajeek looks over the tiger for any wounds that he might have previously missed.
Not seeing the tiger leaking blood from his hide, Sajeek nods and stands back up.
Gathering up his own three javelin's, if he can find them, the Beastlord adds a few of the javelins that were tossed over by Gwen.
"Thanks Gwen. I'm going to take at least three of these," Sajeek looks around at his friends (well, the ones that were still visible), still speaking quietly.
"Does anybody else plan on taking any of the javelins?" the gore splattered vah shir asks. His ears twitch as they catch the faint sound of metal scrapping against stone further down the hallway. "Did anybody else here that?"
"Yes, and the invisibility could last hours, or it might last a dozen heartbeats. You will feel it when it is running out, but you won't have much time then before you are visible to all."
Revery shakes his head when Sajeek asks about Javelins. Revery has a few, and he's never thrown one in battle, only against practice targets.
"Yes, I hear that. They are digging or doing some other kind of nefarious underground work. I suggest we start by listening at the door." He walks over to it, touches it, and then puts his ear to it.
Listen:
" Alright I'll shorten it to 25 feet ahead of everyone, when you are done listening to the door do you want me to check it out for locks? If not I'll wait for you to open the door then I'll go check that room out. After that I'll go down the passage carefully, the last thing I need is to be ambushed by the gnolls we just got done fighting." The Rogue whispers to Gwen.
Kwen reappears (warned 2 rounds prior) before Revery is done checking the door. There are no sounds, beyond dripping water, that can be heard on the other side of the door.
The wooden door is locked, and appears to be warped into position, as if it has stood closed for years. It will need to be unlocked (DC 30), and pulled open using a great deal of strength (DC 27).
Kwen continues to hear the methodical sound of metal off of rock coming from the passageway that the gnolls escaped down.
Gwendalyn stands with mouth agape, a line of drool hanging stupidly from her hanging maw.
Nogglegrop marches about checking the wounds of the group. It is difficult to bypass stoicism, or to visually get an update, since everyone is stained by the waters of the last room's nightmare, and their own blood as well, so he lays hands on everyone.
It takes the gnome seemingly forever to don his plate, but soon enough he is ready to travel.
Kwen sees a small alcove, off to the right of the tunnel, not 20' past the stalagmite. His invisibility spell has lapsed, but he sees some discarded metal laying in his path.
Gwendalyn dons her armor and gear, then helps Noggy check everyone's health before following Kwen at a discreet distance.
Waiting to see if anything can be discovered at the door, Sajeek looks back down the hallway, not wanting to be surprised. He struggles to be patient while Noggy dons his armor. He knew it was the gnome bets chance to stay alive. Behind encased in metal had it's drawbacks, but it tended to keep one alive.
Spotting Kwen once he reappears, Sajeek moves to follow roughly 25-30 feet behind the rogue. Far enough to keep him at the edge of his vision. And close enough to get to him if there is trouble.
" Well unlock the door, or press on?" The rogue says loud enough for the party to hear him, getting ready for an enjoyable jaunt though the metallic hallway with the possible Gnoll ambush point.
Revery watches with a certain jealousy as Noggy dons his armor, after being pinned with five or six javelins.
He says to Kwen, "Sorry, I wish I had more control over how long the spell lasted... If this door hasn't been opened in a long time, it may not be anything. But I still feel we should try to open it if we can. We know the gnolls are coming back from the other direction if they do come back."
Gwendalyn considers the options. "I'm out of mana, two of the gnolls got away, and we still have a girl to free and a killer to put down. I'll help get through the door because of natural curiosity, but I won't feel much regret if we can't, since maybe no one goes there because of some danger."
Nogglegrop stops between the two halves of the group wondering if they will be opening the door, or wending their way down the passage first. His helmeted head swivels back and forth between individuals waiting for a decision to be made.
(should you be attempting the door then please include the pick locks and STR check, should you be going doing with the hallway then please include you sneak checks, if invisibility is being cast then please make that clear)
"I think the dog-faces would have forced it if they thought something of interest lay behind it," Sajeek says quietly, glancing around. "I say we check and see if Rev's magic creature finished off the barkers."
The young Beastlord looks at the door, and then between the two hallways . Part of him wanted to know what lay down the other passage as well. However, they couldn't take the chance of the gnolls reporting back to a larger group.
"If we get the chance, we should try to get gnolls," Sajeek looks at his friends. "In case they are on their way to report to a larger group."
Revery shines the light in the chasm to see if there are other exits obvious in it, especially closer to the other chamber with the girl in it.
"Well, then, we should go now, right?"
"Alright works for me, now try not to make to much noise, but if you, well it happens. " The rogue says with a wink, proceeding with caution the rogue tries to minimize the amount of noise that he makes, hoping that he will be able to see a creature lying in wait for him. Going down the tunnel that is not blocked by the door, Kwen let's his training guide him.
moving at half speed
hide check
sneak
spot
Revery finds no obvious exits within the chasm. The dead gnoll and the numerous bloodstains reveals the party's presence to any that enter this chamber after they depart.
Nogglegrop will trail behind the party. He makes far too much noise to even consider sneaking anywhere.
Kwen continues on without the cloak of invisibility to protect him, and almost immediately comes upon the mangled remains of the enchanter's summoned minion.
As he nears the corner of the alcove he can hear the sharp retort of a dull pick meeting solid stone. Barely peeking around the corner he sees three young adult human females, caked in grime and with solid chains around their necks, they are sheathed in sweat, making their ragged rags that clothe them stick to their gaunt frames. The women are nervous, and their eyes constantly flit to the southernmost part of the alcove. Kwen gets the impression that there is a gnoll right around the corner and the two sets of fresh bloodstains at his feet, from the fleeing duo of gnolls, turn into the alcove and confirm his suspicions.
There is no sign that the gnolls, if there are gnolls there, have heard the rogue's approach, but those that are with him might unintentionally reveal their presence if they are not careful.
The ~5' wide and ~8' tall tunnel continues northward, with a bulge in the ceiling about 5' past the alcove. The floor remains relatively consistent, as to the walls, but the ceiling dips down for some reason.
Kwen stops moving and holds up a closed fist, turning slightly to the side he keeps and eye on the alcove and the party behind him. He moves very slowly back towards the party upon reaching the party he whispers " Possible ambush from at least one Gnoll, some captives, also a trap, the ceiling dips downwards. I can try to disarm the trap, or at least mark for us to avoid."
sneaking at 1/4 normal speed no penility
hide check if needed
spot
listen [dick] 1d20 + 3 [/dice]
Gwendalyn nods at Kwen's report and pulls out her favored hammer, handing off her lantern to Noggy if he wants it. She tries to follow Kwen as silently as possible.
Nogglegrop stands with lantern in hand (30' radius of illumination) and Revery holds the other source of light in the fey lightstone (30' radius of illumination), and though they have kept back from the north tunnel, the area is too small to stop the light from revealing the group's presence on the far side of the chasm.
From just around the corner from the rogue, the gnoll shaman grabs the other's arm, it's tall ears pivoting towards the sound of a noise that only it had heard. They knew the interlopers were close, perhaps as proximal as only 20' away, but even they would be surprised to learn how close they were.
Then Gwendalyn starts up the tunnel, and there is no mistaking that they have both heard the noise. Peeking around the corner they look Kwen straight in the eye (using the first hide and sneak rolls for the opposed check).
Spot (Gnoll 1):
Listen (Gnoll 1):
Spot (Gnoll 3):
Listen (Gnoll 3):
Kwen did not get a chance to turn around and go back to talk tot he others.
The face-to-face is a surprise to both sides (no surprise round), as the gnolls had been lying in wait, but had not expected one of the humans to get this close with them being unaware. The battle starts anew, but this time the scout is momentarily alone with two angry foes (one round completed before the others can join in). Kwen recognizes this as a good time to have been invisible, for they would have looked right through him, as it were, and provided him a perfect opportunity for some pinpoint strikes.
Initiative (Gnolls):
Initiative (Kwen):
Initiative:
- Gnolls
- Kwen
Kwen recognizes that the neither of these combatants show any sign of their previous injuries beyond the bloodstains that bedeck their armour and clothes.
Gnoll 1 (Kwen):
Damage (attack 1):
Damage (attack 2):
Gnoll 3 (Kwen):
Damage:
Though only one of the blade finds his skin, Kwen feels his system instantly react to a foreign substance entering his bloodstream (please include a DC 18 fort save vs. poison in your next post).
The shaman's blade also shows a sickening hue to it, and drips a thick substance.
" Svilmindar! " Kwen curses in Elvish, spinning around he draws his scimitar and brings the fight to the one gnoll that had drawn blood, his limbs shaking with the poison coursing through his veins. Enraged at not remembering to poison his own blades, Kwen resolves to fix that as soon as he was able to.
After taking a swing with his blade, Kwen throws himself back words knowing that to stay up close and personal without anyone else could result in his demise.
fort save fail
standard action attack Gnoll 1
confrim crit
damage
If Crit confrim, Crit Damage on Gnoll 1
Tumble 15 ft away as move action
The rogue's blade slips past the larger gnoll's guard as if it wasn't even there. The sweep of a scimitar's curved blade makes short work of its flesh, cutting a swath across shoulder and upper arm. His accuracy was perfect (successful critical strike) and would greatly impress his master to see how well he had internalized their lessons.
Kwen attempts to scamper away, but gets caught running before he has his feet properly under him (failed tumble, incurs AoO, no distance gained). Suffice to say that this is a moment that would make his master a tad less proud.
Gnoll 1 (AoO Kwen): (critical threat)
Gnoll 1 (AoO Kwen): (confirm critical)
Damage:
Gnoll 3 (AoO Kwen):
Damage:
The effects of the first poisoned blade takes its toll.
Poison Damage (Kwen):
Insidious poison continues to flow through Kwen's system, seeking to still his heart.
Fort Save (Kwen vs. DC 18, takes effect in 10 rounds):
Poison Damage (10 rounds hence):
Kwen (3 hit points remaining) understands just how close he came to dying, and why scouts rarely live to see their retirement years.
(end of round start of new round)
The rest of the group watches Kwen get cut down.
The larger of the gnolls throws a blade at Kwen and stops in his tracks as the shaman cuts the rogue down.
Gnoll 1 (Kwen):
Damage:
Gnoll 3 (Kwen):
Damage:
Fort Save (Kwen vs. DC 18):
Kwen drops (-2 hit points) and the second blade's poison rips through his system. It is sufficiently potent to kill him outright, but the rogue is tougher than the stone and finds a way to keep it from invading his heart (-4 hit points).
Poison Damage (Kwen):
The larger of the gnolls steps on Kwen's chest and taunts the shaman. It is smart enough to not move forward since the two gnolls have the space of the alcove mouth the maneuver in (no penalties), but the party will need to coordinate their attack in an area ~5' wide, which will make it difficult to attack en masse (penalties will accumulate depending on how many melee combatants move into the tight confines of the corridor).
(tag PCs, require a single move action to get to the combat)
Kwen still breathes, but only barely. Those that get close can possibly see that the poison remains in his system (include a DC 25 heal check to recognize the truth of the poison's continued effects).
Everyone understands that Kwen still lives, but if either gnoll realize that they will either kill him with a casual flick of their hand, or use him as a hostage. Luckily they do not see the human female slaves as having worth, and that limitation makes the oblivious to the fact that the party might see them as having worth, or else they would use them as hostages as well.
Lesson # 20336: Scouting is suicidally dangerous. Should one consider it as an option then they want to ensure that they remain unseen, which invisibility is an ideal buff for the occasion. They also want to remain unheard, so heavy footed party members should remain behind.
Seeing Kwen go down, Sajeek curses their luck as he draws a one of the gnolls crappy javelins. With a grunt of effort, he throws poorly made javelin at the gnoll. Knowing it wouldn't be a killing blow, the vah shir was hoping for more of a distraction.
"Get 'em, Bast!" Sajeek doesn't need to give much encouragement to the big reddish-orange tiger.
Charging at the barking dog face, Bast leaps a few feet before the gnoll. The tiger has every intention of introducing the gnoll to all of his claws and fangs.
"Gwen, you go next, then I'll go in and stab over Bast with my spear," Sajeek says with a note of urgency, glancing at Kwen.
Revery is really concerned for Kwen's life when he sees the gnoll putting a foot on his chest. These opponents are far from pushovers. He casts two spells in succession, as he tries to help in whatever way he can; the first targeting the non-Shaman gnoll and the second aimed at the Shaman.
Quickened Shallow Breath, free action (4 mana)
Damage: and -2 to DEX and STR for 8 rounds
Save: Fort 20 for half damage and no ability loss.
Eye of Confusion (4 mana)
Blinds for rounds.
Save: Will 22
Mana: 25/90, hp: 30/35
Gwendalyn is once again too far to help when a friend is getting hurt, and decides to veto anyone scouting ahead in the future. For now they just need to kill the gnolls as quickly as possible, and so she focuses on the same one that Bast is attacking, swinging her two-handed hammer as best she can in the cramped space.
Damage:
Nogglegrop recognizes that not only has Kwen been dropped to unconsciousness, but that he is also suffering the effects of the gnoll's poison (6/50 mana).
Heal:
Minor Healing:
Light Healing:
The gnome charges forward looking ready to charge through the two gnolls, if that is what it takes to get them off of Kwen (incurs AoO from both gnolls).
Kwen regains consciousness, as he feels his wounds close due to Fizzle's intervention, and looks up and sees a perfect opportunity to strike out against the gnolls that are unaware that he still draws breath (can backstab on next attack with a +2 to strike for flanking, currently prone, requires move action to stand, but will end up in flanking position behind the gnolls).
The group works hard to remove any casual glance towards their fallen friend, and they do a great job of it.
Sajeek returns the discarded spear, with the power of anger behind it. He moves in behind and finds it difficult to find the proper position for a follow up strike (-2 to strike due to cramped quarters).
Bast arrives into a combat already underway and does not have the advantage of surprise (2nd round of combat, no pounce). That does not stop its pearl-white dental spears from tearing into the gnoll's thigh (successive attacks will gain a -2 to attack due to cramped quarters).
Gwendalyn (-2 to strike due to cramped quarters) fails to make contact with the larger gnoll. She can take solace in the knowledge that she would have missed even in an open field and with a flanking partner.
The larger gnoll coughs and sputters, finding it difficult to catch its breath. While it had nearly cut the rogue in half it finds that its shield and breastplate are as nothing to this group (33 damage taken).
Fort Save vs. Shallow Breath: (fail)
The shamanistic gnoll pushes off the effects of Revery's spell, as one would expect since he is casting the spell that affects the mind against the caster, and the body against the melee combatant.
Will Save vs. Eye of Confusion: (success)
Nogglegrop is in trouble as he attempts to run past both combatants, but he is caught by the larger gnoll's attack. It is lucky that Kwen was polite enough to wipe the poison off of the blades with his soft and squishy innards.
Gnoll 1 (AoO Nogglegrop):
Damage:
Gnoll 3 (AoO Nogglegrop):
Damage:
(end of round)
(start of new round)
The shaman takes a step back (5' step) and once again uses Revery's tactics against him, but the words barely take a heartbeat to spout (quickened).
(Revery: please include a DC 16 Fort save vs. Flash of Light in your next post)
The shaman starts his next spell not knowing that there is a rogue standing right behind him (incurs an AoO backstab from Kwen with a +2 to strike for flanking and the defender is denied their DEX bonus). A sickening mist coalesces around Revery, but it will only take full effect if Kwen misses his strike (interruption) and Revery is not able to push off the effects of the spell.
(Revery: please include a DC 17 Fort save vs. Sicken in your next post)
The larger gnoll focuses on Nogglegrop, but the little guy continues to show everyone that wisdom in entering combat wearing a thousand rivets and some steel in the middle. No blow gets past his shield or plate, but the sound of the dents makes the closest of you gulp in fear of what will happen if he solidly makes contact with your flesh.
Gnoll 1 (Nogglegrop):
Damage:
Gnoll 1 (Nogglegrop):
Damage:
Even weakened, by the enchanter's spell, this one is incredibly dangerous.
The push of bodies, mixed with the rogue appearing behind the gnolls, and the gnome pushing further past them, has pushed them into the alcove (successive attacks have no negative for cramped quarters).
You are fighting right next to two young women, who have dropped their picks and have curled into balls in the corner, one covering the other protectively.
(tag PCs)
Kwen gives a slight as he brings his blade that he somehow managed to hold onto even being so close to death. Bringing the slashing blade up into the Gnoll's danglily bit's hoping that Neutering that bloody thing would stop it from attacking him or at least surprise him.
Backstab attack to junk AoO
damage
Move action to stand up from prone, and attack next round
flanking attack
damage
Kwen makes it nearly impossible for the spell to be launched at his erudite friend as he exploits the opening provided by the finger wiggler (spell interrupted).
Channeling Check (vs. DC 26 AoO) (fail)
Revery feels the sicken spell fade as if it had never been cast (no need for saving throw, the spell has been negated).
The gnoll shaman is looking particularily exhausted as it has been using a great deal of its mana reserves as of late, and Kwen's blow felt like its back was on fire (14 damage taken).
Kwen tears flesh from the back of the unsuspecting gnoll (42 damage taken), who is seriously reconsidering his vocation as his wheezing breaths come quicker as the blows cut deeper.
Nogglegrop moves around to provide a flanking partner to Gwendalyn, should she seek to kill the caster, and throws himself at the shaman, while yelling, "Mace to the f#$@ing face knobstick!"
Mace:
Damage:
The gnome misses completely.
Gwendalyn had considered pushing past the gnolls, but knew that her light armor had not held up well against them before, so she was fiercely glad to see Nogglegrop do precisely that. And then he even set himself up behind the shaman! No one knew better than they did the power of healing magics to prolong a battle past the other side's endurance. She swings her two-handed hammer at the spell-caster.
Damage:
Gwendalyn's blow once again finds armour, rather than the meat that lies 'neath it, and sees no real damage from the swing.
Sajeek moves in to attack with the spear he had carried since the before the desert of Ro, having hit with the javelin formly owned by a gnoll. He had been a little surprised the poorly made weapon had hit.
Bast continues to savage the gnoll he had gotten a bite out of.