You feel confident there are no traps at the open entrance to this room. You can barely make out what sounds like a faint and inconsistent whimpering coming from the room.
Bulgard grabbed up all the items he could carry and traded his greatsword for his bow. He awaits Rhen's advance to keep a look out for traps.
Rhen moves back "Sounds like someone be wimperin' a prisoner?" Rhen motions for Grokar to take the lead
Whimpering you say?
Zevon moves into the alcove across from the opening for a better vantage.
Ho, there! The Champions of the Hollow have come. We have vanquished your cleric, and seek to liberate this place. Come out in peace, and no harm shall befall you!
When Zevon gets to a better vantage, he sees a hobgoblin dressed in normal work attire. He does have a club hanging from his waist and he is in a cowering position.
This filthy room is full of junk, most of it worthless. A dirty straw pallet lies in one corner and a few rickety tables contain various strange collections including molted feathers and piles of dry animal spoor. Each item is labeled in rough, child-like script. A dead hawk stares down from the wall, nailed there through the neck.
Grokar
Zevon
Bulgard
Rhen
hobgoblin
Surprise Round
Zevon <==========
Hobgoblin
Zevon's brow furrows at the odd scene.
Rise. If you are so fearful, you may flee from here unmolested. Hurry now.
The hobgoblin screams when he sees Zevon. He runs through a door into the far east room.
You hear something being moved in the room. It sounds like rickety wood.
Round 1
Grokar 40/40 Rhen 30/32 Zevon 30/30 Bulgard 37/39
Grokar, Rhen, Zevon <===============
Hobgoblin
Bulgard
Rhen moves across the door way as quiet possible.
Keeping his sword in hand Rhen wants to get the jump on the guy
You are at the doorway to the room he is in. You see that he has opened a cage with a large toad in it. The toad is not bridled and will be a threat.
Actually, he only had one move in the surprise round, so the door is not yet open.
Grokar, Taking Rhen's advice hurries into the room and is able to make it to the goblin before he is able to open the door, but not with enough time to take a swing.
If however the puny goblin does decide to continue to open the door, or otherwise provokes Grokar will take a massive 2 handed chop with the battle ax.
Zevon shakes his head and sighs.
The art of conversation is dying. You try and show mercy...
Zevon follows Grokar, pursuing the hobgoblin. When he sees the creature he focuses his energy and yells, Stop!
Round 2
Grokar 40/40 Rhen 30/32 Zevon 30/30 Bulgard 37/39
Bulgard,Grokar, Rhen, Zevon <===============
Hobgoblin
Rhen rushes into the room to cut off the hobgoblin from setting another toad free
Satisfied in spell, Zevon cracks his whip in Bale's face.
Bale is startled by the whip and gives Zevon a mean look, partially ignoring the orc.
Grokar chops at Bale
Bale screams in pain as Grokar lands a blow.
Bulgard moves into the room
No kill the Nortson! Bale help you and give you stuff. Toads stay in the cages now. Bale no like Wingsclipper but he very fraid of hims.
See now, was that so very difficult? Could have spared yourself some discomfort by heeding my warning. So, what do you offer in exchange for your release?
Bale looks at the wound from Grokar's bec de carbon. "That leave a mark, it will." He takes out a wand of cure moderate wounds "Ahhhhh....better." He looks at Zevon and replies "Whatevers I has or can dos. What you want? Nortson give you."
We could use that wand
Bulgard whispers to Zevon.
Bale points the wand at himself.
Ahhhhhhh
Well we will need that wand for starters. Your housemates are none too friendly. Information as well. Where is Wingclipper? What are his strengths? Weaknessess? Defenses? What other kind of nasty surprises await us en route to him? Also, you mentioned toads. I don't want anything creeping up behind us. Can you take them with you? Anyone else have any requests?
Bale hands Zevon the wand. It have 31 more times in it.
Bale points upward. Wingsclipper be up there. Only he goes there. No one know what be there. Wingsclipper mean to Bale. He want me for me good with toads. He kill Pook and stuff him and nail him to my wall. Say me next if not do good for him. Pook my companion hawk, was. He shudders and then ponders.
Wingsclipper very good fighter and hunter. They say he faster than a cat and he fight with two swords at one time. Maybe he kill all of you at one time he so bad. Nortson take toads with him. Yes. You no want Bale for help you fight the Wingsclipper? Bale know magics. He summon animals to fight with him and he has this too. He pats a gray bag at his waist.
Rhen just keeps quiet while Zevon talks, barely keeping the urge from gutting the goblin down.
Bale moves away from you. He makes no attempt to open the other toad cage.
Zevon eyes the gray pouch.
A gray bag.
Rhen looks around for somethign to do as Zevon talks.
Rhen notices this room is partially collapsed, and the entire far wall has fallen into the swamp. It is drafty and dense with moisture, and the crumbling stone walls are covered with a layer of dark blue mold. The far wall has been replaced with a number of swinging doors made of rotting wood. Water fills the southern half of this room, and each of the five toads is kept in one of the small pens. Dead animals are stacked in a corner.
The adjacent room that Bale ran from is the stablemaster's quarters. This filthy room is full of junk, most of it worthless. A dirty straw pallet lies in one corner and a few rickety tables contain various strange collections including molted feathers and piles of dry animal spoor. Each item is labeled in rough, child-like script. A dead hawk stares down from the wall, nailed there through the neck.
In the rear of the stablemaster's quarters is a saddle room. This room contains artisan’s tools, a wooden work bench, and raw materials for making exotic saddles for dire toad mounts. Bale is in the process of making a special military saddle for Wingclipper. It is of masterwork quality, carved with elaborate decorations and fitted with cold-iron buckles and a holster for a longbow.
Zevon shrugs.
Join us if you like. In fact, I will let you lead the way.
Rhen picks up the saddle throwing it over his shoulder he goes back to everyone.
"I be thinkin' if we wreck this in front o' Wingclipper he might be apt to makin' more mistakes." Rhen's smile is full of malice.
Bale rather to die fighting than hunted down by Wingsclipper. Bale go first? Okay, Bale go first.
Bale heads up the stairs that end in a domed room with crumbling walls. The west wall has fallen, and portions of the fifteen foot high ceiling have given way, revealing open sky and the tip of a broken tower above. A large, rotted log completely blocks the far door. Growing on and around the log are several plants and fungi giving off the faint smell of decay.
This no look like where someone be. Maybe he not here afters all. Bale not know plants, he know animals very good.
Zevon takes a look at the log and associated fungi.
Zevon knows the fungi to be common and harmless.
"What are we waitin' on? This Wingclipper isn't just waiting in a room for us ta murder him." Rhen says while keeping an eye behind them.
Grokar follows the little goblin wearily "Sorry I attack you, I like to kill."
Bale gives the large orc a concerned look, not trusting the huge man with the big weapon quite so soon. No kill the Nortson, he fight with you now.
What this? Bale sees two identical impressions in the ground about two feet apart. They are circular.
Rhen keeps an eye on the Hobgoblin, "We'll be checkin' it out" Rhen steps forward
I don't trust you, hobgoblin. Take 5 steps away from where you are and I will come take a look
If Bale moves, Bulgard takes a look at the prints on the ground.
So where is he?
Zevon looks beyond the log into the room beyond, his gaze traveling up the ruined tower.
Bale moves to the rear of the group as directed by Bulgard. Bulgard notes footprints around the two indentions in the ground. Zevon sees a closed door behind the large rotted log. Looking up at the ruined tower, it is obvious there is another floor above. It cannot be accessed from this area.
Zevon leans over and pushes the door open.
The door cannot be reached without disturbing the inhabitants of the rotted log. Six small monstrous centipedes immediately attack to defend their home.
Surprise round
centipedes emerge from the log
Grokar
Zevon
Bulgard
Rhen
Bale
centipedes
Round 1
Grokar 40/40 Rhen 30/32 Zevon 30/30 Bulgard 37/39
Zevon, Rhen, Bale <============
Centipedes
Grokar, Bulgard
Zevon hops back at the sudden appearance.
He sends his whip cracking at the creature directly in front of him.
Zevon draws attacks of opportunity from 4 of the 6 creatures
+ poison
+ poison
+ poison
+ poison
Save for this poison is Fort DC 13; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Dex damage; cure 1 save.
Zevon takes 2 hp of damage. He has been poisoned three times.
Poisons stack and alter the saving throw.
Details are here
Zevon kills the centipede.
Bale instinctively begins to cast calm animals but quickly realizes these creatures have no intelligence for him to work with. He begins to draw a wand of charm animal and realizes that too requires a mind. Arg, you stupid mindless creatures. He mutters a quick cantrip and a burst of light appears in front of the red centipede.
Red is dazzled for one minute.