As Zoli and Morythine flee, you both hear a loud roar and shout from the southern hallway. Also, the sound of scratching and barking on the other side of the stone door can clearly be heard as you make your break.
"What the hell is going on out here!? Orik! Get off your ass, we have intruders!"
As you turn the bend through the previous chamber and into the adjoining hallway, you hear a door slam south of you. Several seconds later, the sound of stone grinding against stone sounds out beneath a "Go after 'em, you damned hounds!" The barking gets louder and closer as you make your way up the stairs, but it sounds like the chase ceases at the base of the stairwell.
After several rounds of fleeing through the halls of Thistletop, most of the group regains composure and are caught up with by Zoli and Morythine, and you all have gathered in the courtyard with the warhorse from before. However, Eugeni sits hunkered down inside the shed, his hands over his dog-like ears as he rocks back and forth in terror.
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Zoli grabs Baern's hammer in her free hand, and Mory grabs Kala's sword and the two archers' bows. Then they run after their friends as Zoli calls out, "Hey! Come back! I'll protect you!!"
About 20 seconds later, after calming the nerves of all but Eugeni,Zoli says to Shalelu, "Please take your bow from Mory and then follow Eugeni. Keep him safe until he snaps out of it. Then razz him mercilessly as you lead him back to the rest of us. We'll go back to the temple and see if we can make it into the temple without anyone else wetting themselves.
"Speaking of which, Xamarath, you're starting to smell a bit more like our friend Steelbrains over there." she grins.
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A mere eighteen seconds after having dropped his weapons and running out of the room like a scared little elven girl, Baern regains his posture and realizes what he just did.
He left his equipment behind him.
"Oh 'Ells nah, did I jus' - tha' wasn' - Nah, nah, screw tha'!" Baern pulls out his longspear, an angry look on his face and bloodthirst in his eyes. Without leave of his allies, some of whome still flee with their non-existant tails between their legs, Baern rushes back down to retrieve his weapons and kill the things that caused him to drop them in the first place.
As Baern stamps back down the stairs and into the first chamber, he can hear the snarling of the floating hounds coming from somewhere in the room. He also can hear the sound of something heavy being shoved up against the door to the from the other side.
However, the hounds do not give him time to wonder what it was, as they soar across the room above him and attack. Their teeth rake against dwarven steel, but do not manage to pierce it.
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When Zoli sees the dogs she tumbles between Kala's legs, then vaults over Baern's right shoulder just as he gets ready to swing, leaping over the snapping mouths of both dogs.
As she lands she's already spinning, and nicks the dog before her on it's shoulder, then stands ready to parry if it tries to bite her back.
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HP 21/25
Luck 4/8
Panache 3/4
Charmed Life 2/3
Buffs n/a
Unable to gain access or a line of sight on anything, Xamarath remains on the staircase until there is an opening to be exploited.
When Zoli sees the dogs she tumbles between Kala's legs, then vaults over Baern's right shoulder just as he gets ready to swing, leaping over the snapping mouths of both dogs.
As she lands she's already spinning, and nicks the dog before her on it's shoulder, then stands ready to parry if it tries to bite her back.
"Wot tha' 'ells up wi' flyin' dogs? It ain' righ'!" Baern, unable to strike the flying hound with his hammer due to the dog's proximity, instead opts to headbutt the thing with his massive boulder helmet, striking the same one that Zoli slashes.
Kala, now mentally prepared for the beasts, swings her sword and shield the one just around the corner from her.
Unable to gain access or a line of sight on anything, Xamarath remains on the staircase until there is an opening to be exploited.
Morythine moves to join the fray, but his foot slips on the smooth stone stairwell and he stumbles into the room, his defenses completely down. The pair of hounds capitalize, both of them biting into his body and shaking furiously, flinging his body across the room and into the wall, where he falls limply to the ground.
The taste of blood fresh on their teeth, the beasts let loose again. The one again rakes it's jaws to no effect against Baern's armor. However, the other bypasses Zoli's guard and snatches her up, shakes her violently, and slams her down onto the ground, where she falls prone.
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Zoli -- pride hurt -- manages to escape the dog's snapping jaw as she picks herself back up.
Noticing that her and Baern's attacks were less effective against this beast than they should have been, she calls out, "We NEED to find a way to get Xamarath into this battle. I think these things are tougher than usual to hurt, and suspect magic might get around it. I'm going to risk going past this thing.
"Baern and Kala, if you each squeeze a few more feet in, Xam should be able to get close enough to see. Deal?"
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For reference:
when an opponent attempts a melee attack against the swashbuckler, she can spend 1 panache point to move 5 feet as an immediate action; doing so grants the swashbuckler a bonus to AC equal to her Charisma bonus against the triggering attack. This movement doesn’t negate the attack, which is still resolved as if the swashbuckler was in the original square. This movement is not a 5-foot step; it provokes attacks of opportunity from creatures other than the one who triggered this deed. [/ooc]
HP 11/25
Luck 4/8
Panache 2/4
Charmed Life 2/3
Buffs n/a
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As Baern shifts to the side, Kala steps into the gap and attacks the floating dog thing with shield and blade once more. The shield connects again, though not as well, while her attack with the sword is dodged just as it was before.
"Xam, the path is clear, help us kill these things, Morythine is in danger," she says.
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Xamarath takes advantage of the opening and steps forward, summoning up a well of energy from within his waning reserves of power. With a swift gesture, the Red Wizard unleashes a blast of blue energy into the wretched canine squaring off with Kala. "I expended much against the goblins above; I'm afraid I've not got many tricks left to unleash."
Yeth hounds can often be found in the company of night hags or evil hunters. Yeth hounds hate other canine monsters such as barghests and worgs, and attack them on sight if they have the advantage of numbers. They are often associated with particularly bestial demons, and can be found serving demon cults as guardians and trackers. A gift of a yeth hound companion to a particularly successful cult is sure sign of favor in the eyes of a demonic patron. A cult with yeth hounds granted to them in this manner must take care to retain this favor, for if they displease their demonic patron, the hounds could turn on them.
Yeth hounds inhabit secluded dens in remote wilderness areas far from bothersome civilization. These dens are always subterranean, far removed from the hated sunlight. Yeth hounds range great distances from their dens during their nightly hunts, and have been known to carry kills for miles just for the comfort of consuming a fresh meal in their lair. The sight of a yeth hound loping through the sky with a body clenched in its jaws is unsettling indeed.
Seeing as you are trying to recall information on how to hurt them, the only useful bit of information coming to you at the moment is that they are damaged more efficiently by silver items.
Zoli -- pride hurt -- manages to escape the dog's snapping jaw as she picks herself back up.
Noticing that her and Baern's attacks were less effective against this beast than they should have been, she calls out, "We NEED to find a way to get Xamarath into this battle. I think these things are tougher than usual to hurt, and suspect magic might get around it. I'm going to risk going past this thing."
"Baern and Kala, if you each squeeze a few more feet in, Xam should be able to get close enough to see. Deal?"
With more room to be had than there previously was, Baern shuffles up to the corner and attempts to headbutt the flying dog he flanks with Zoli.
As Baern shifts to the side, Kala steps into the gap and attacks the floating dog thing with shield and blade once more. The shield connects again, though not as well, while her attack with the sword is dodged just as it was before.
"Xam, the path is clear, help us kill these things, Morythine is in danger," she says.
Xamarath takes advantage of the opening and steps forward, summoning up a well of energy from within his waning reserves of power. With a swift gesture, the Red Wizard unleashes a blast of blue energy into the wretched canine squaring off with Kala. "I expended much against the goblins above; I'm afraid I've not got many tricks left to unleash."
From the stairwell above, Xamarath hears a noise and glances over his shoulder, spotting Eugeni and Shalelu arriving, both with looks of determination and resolve on their faces.
The creature that had threw Zoli around so violently continues attacking the halfling, but she proves too nimble this time, slipping out of reach of it's powerful jaws just before they can clamp down on her once again.
Reeling from the blow from Kala's shield, the other beast lashes out against her, though she is able to use that same shield to keep the thing at bay.
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Eugeni draws his greatsword and waits for an opening to get into the room and help his friends. "I can't get at them from here!" he calls down the steps.
Frustrated by her inability to pierce the beast's hide, Zoli passes her scimitar to her off hand and draws Ripnugget's enchanted short sword, hoping that it might make a difference.
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HP 11/25
Luck 4/8
Panache 1/4
Charmed Life 2/3
Buffs n/a
"Silver is the secret ingredient, folks! Too bad we sold all that silver dust back in town, huh?" Xamarath chuckles, then turns and plants his quarterstaff into the nearest dog's face, offering a few distracting pokes to the creature's snapping maw before he turns to make room for Eugeni's approach.
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When making a melee attack against an adjacent target, your target has cover if any line from any corner of your square to the target's square goes through a wall (including a low wall). When making a melee attack against a target that isn't adjacent to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for determining cover from ranged attacks.
Cover and Attacks of Opportunity: You can't execute an attack of opportunity against an opponent with cover relative to you.
Kala climbs onto the table as both hounds bite at her, but thanks to Xamarath's distraction neither hound is able to find a way through the warrior's armor. Once atop the table, Kala swings her shield at the already heavily injured hound, bashing its head into the wall with the sounds of squelching and crunching. It falls to the ground unconcious.
"Stand strong friends! Only one remains," she says.
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Eugeni draws his greatsword and waits for an opening to get into the room and help his friends. "I can't get at them from here!" he calls down the steps.
Frustrated by her inability to pierce the beast's hide, Zoli passes her scimitar to her off hand and draws Ripnugget's enchanted short sword, hoping that it might make a difference, but even so the blade fails to penetrate the beast's hide.
Baern, still unable to do much in the cramped quarters and lacking any sort of weapon to properly damage these beasts, headbutts the one between him and Zoli, feeling as his solid blow is lessened from the beast's otherwordly damage reduction.
"Silver is the secret ingredient, folks! Too bad we sold all that silver dust back in town, huh?" Xamarath chuckles, then turns and plants his quarterstaff into the nearest dog's face, offering a few distracting pokes to the creature's snapping maw before he turns to make room for Eugeni's approach.
Kala climbs onto the table as both hounds bite at her, but thanks to Xamarath's distraction neither hound is able to find a way through the warrior's armor. Once atop the table, Kala swings her shield at the already heavily injured hound, bashing its head into the wall with the sounds of squelching and crunching. It falls to the ground unconcious.
"Stand strong friends! Only one remains," she says.
Eugeni moves in and manages to open another wound on the thing, and Shalelu squats down to clear a shot at the flying hound, burying an arrow in it's midsection. After Zoli bats aside it's jaws with her blade, cutting a deep gash in it's face, the rest of the group take advantage of the opening and pummel the thing to the floor, with Eugeni delivering a downward thrust with his blade into it's heart.
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"I can," Eugeni says, approaching the dhampir. Hr prays to Erastil and a dark violet glow forms around his hands. He leans over and touches Morythine.
Xamarath presses the tip of his wand into Morythine's wounds.
As the last dog falls Zoli collapses against the table, breathing hard.
"That was tough! Silver you say, Xam? I guess it's time to get some.
...By the way, once you're done with Zoli I could use some more healing as well. I suggest everyone take advantage of it. I don't know if you all heard, but there was someone yelling for support after the dogs started to bay so they're clearly on alert now."
After getting zapped by the wand -- and feeling that creepy devilish sensation that makes her hairs stand up on end as her cuts and bruises start to knit themselves back together -- Zoli sheaths Ripnugget's short sword and readies her own scimitar again.
While folks recover, Zoli listens at the SW door and checks it for locks or traps.
As the negative energy and corrupt healing from the wand does it's work on Morythine and Zoli, Baern, Kala, Eugeni, and Shalelu all take efforts to make sure the yeth hounds are indeed dispatched.
Zoli whispers, "Sounds like at least two in there, and they're ready for us. Anyone have something else to do before we confront them?"
Just before the door is opened, she takes another hit from the infernal wand.
Kala attempts to throw the door open, only to find that something is holding it closed from the other side. She puts a shoulder into it, but still cannot get the door to budge.
"Hold it, Orik! Don't let them through!" a female voice can be heard calling out over the repeated slams Kala delivers to the door.
"I'm...trying!" a man's voice calls out.
Eventually, however, Kala succeeds in forcing the door open. On the other side, a table had been pushed against it, as well as a heavily armored man with a large steel shield actively trying to keep it shut. Once open, the man takes up a defensive stance, protecting the woman behind him.
"You're pathetic, Orik!" she scolds.
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Eugeni sighs, and decides he'll be more use for now as a magic-user than a combatant in these tight quarters. He calls out to Erastil, raising his voice in prayer. A moment later, the group from Sandpoint feels themselves swelling with the power of Old Deadeye's blessings.