Then someone, he sounds human, calls from the other room, "Nualia! Are you there?"
Runt dismisses her eagle before it can cause problems and prepares for the worst.
"I'm thinking we should use the terrain to our advantage, Let them come to us where we can get a bunch of us on one of them."
The idea of goblins having to come at them one at a time really appeals to Runt and she hangs out just around the corner to the entrance after putting away her weapon and pulling out a scroll of protection from evil.
At the sound of the approaching group, Lavanor turns to Lyrie and puts his finger to his lips to indicate she stay quiet. He then nods in agreement to Runt's suggestion and taps Zandril on the shoulder to indicate he step back into the room. In order to give them more room to maneuver, he sheathes his sword and then moves to drag Nualia to the side of the room opposite Lyrie.
Before long, a goblin comes down the hall and looks around the corner. He screams and runs back yelling in goblin, "There's an army of them, run, run!"
@Zherxikas: yes
Forest had never been on a boat on such a large body of water. Lake Syrantula was much smaller than the varisian gulf. The power of the sea was something to behold. One moment it was smooth sailing on glassy waters, the next he was launched head over heels through the air as the speeding boat collided with something under the water in a storm that came out of nowhere. Thankfully he was a strong swimmer and the things boats are made of still float even when smashed to less-than-boat shaped bits. His shield, acting like a sea anchor, actually caused him more trouble than his armor, but eventually he made it to the shore. Trudging through the shallows onto the beach, he cringes with each step as he feels and hears the sand grinding in the joints of his armor. This is going to take hours to clean and oil. With the ocean lapping at his greaves, he stands hunched over, hands on knees and panting. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he turns back to the sea. ”Alright, who’s not dead?” He looks out over the beach and water for his three companions.
Forest calls out but no one answers other than the ominous slap squelch sound which seems to be a little closer now. The wind howls outside of the small cave opening and rain as well as water spray is thrown into the mouth. It is pitch black outside. No one else seems to have followed Forest's path of escape.
Forest stands in the dark and wet cave, pulling from a belt pouch his ioun torch, a more difficult task than one might think on account of his plate gauntlets. He casts his gaze out into the inky blackness of the sea, lamenting his lack of torches. He could have lit a few and left them in the mouth of the cave as a signal to his shipmates, but that was not possible now. He did not know what the original purpose of the ioun stone he carried was, but it was almost spent of its magic. It still held just enough of a magical charge to provide him with handsfree light, and true to form it rose from his hand and began circling a few inches from his head, shining brightly, and he takes in his rocky surroundings.
Zherxikas puts a force missile into the fleeing goblin and hears it squeal in pain as it runs. Then a male voice, human maybe, comes from down the hall.
"Give us our women or we'll be forced to come get them!"
Trying to sound masculine and tough, Runt barks out, "Ha! Your women like it better with us! Come and get them, if you dare!"
Gonna have to work on that.
Lavanor shrugs his shoulders. "Well, I guess we don't have to decide if we go out there now. Let's set up our line here so only one can get in at a time. Back up a bit Zandril," he says quietly and draws his sword again, ready to attack anyone who enters.
Forest peers into the dim interior of the cave. His light reveals a pair of tunnels. One running straight ahead and ending at a door. A second tunnel goes to the southwest and turns out of his line of sight. Just as he gets his feet and gets a good look around does a tentacle come out of the darkness near the door, slaps on the ground, and then pulls a bizarre creature into view. It has a thick conical body with squid like tentacles radiating up into the air. Like a squid, two of the tentacles are longer than the others. The trunk of the beast has several beady red eyes and they seem to fix themselves on the warrior.
Round 1
Forest
Tentamort
Although lumbering in locomotion the tentamort is quick on the attack and is known to constrict its prey and it has a sting.
In the deeper fortress, Runt issues her challenge. Nothing else is heard for a minute or two. Then they begin to hear the sound of wood on stone just down the hall from them. Almost like someone moving or roughing up furniture but there was no furniture in the hall. A quick look reveals goblins piling pieces of furniture and wooden buckets inside the hall door. A man is further back holding a torch while a large silhouette, likely a bugbear, stands nearby.
Peeking back to the group, Camil quietly says, I think they mean to smoke us out, we may not be able to hold a defensive position, looks like we gotta rush 'em he looks at the others somewhat disheartened by the idea of rushing the goblins, a man, and a bugbear...
”Well, aren’t you an ugly one?” Forest says as the creepy monster tentacles its way into view, drawing his scimitar and donning his large, circular shield. ”You know, we could have used your help docking the boat a few minutes ago.” He takes a step forward so as not to be knocked back into the water by the probably hostile monster.
Lavanor frowns with the change in plans. "I agree we have to come up with another plan, Camil. If we charge, we give them the advantage. We could engage them with bows and try to keep them from lighting the wood. We could try to draw them in with the hope of saving the women but we'd have to convince them that lighting the wood will kill them. We could let them light it and try to escape out the other door hoping that they won't see us through the smoke. If we go that route, we'd have to decide what to do with the women. Anyone else have any ideas?" Lavanor says quietly to the group.
While he continues the discussion with the group, he looks around the room for anything of use. "Before we miss our chance, let's take their equipment," he says motioning to the women.
"I could just summon a dog or two to soak up their attacks and we rush in on their heels. I agree these guys are not going to rush us, so we will have to rush them."
Suddenly, the tentamort flops onto its side and drags itself toward Forest, the two long tentacles lashing at him. The tentacle with the large fluke at the end attempts to wrap him up but he deftly steps out of its grasp.
The Heroes of Sandpoint do a quick detect magic and find that Nualia is wearing enchanted breast plate armor (+1) and an enchanted medallion fashioned to resemble the seven pointed Sihedron star (+1 resistance perhaps more). Her bastard sword which lies near the wall is also enchanted (+1). She also has a gold holy symbol of lamashtu on a leather bracer strapped to her wrist. Her belt pouch contains 7 platinum pieces and 5 gold. Sitting near the wall is a masterwork composite longbow and a quiver of 20 arrows. Lyrie has several items though some are odd: a wand of magic missile (CL 1st, 38 charges), potion of cure light wounds, scroll of sleep, scroll of comprehend languages, scroll of minor image, scroll of see invisibility, scroll of whispering wind, a dagger, cloak of resistance +1, silver comb (25 gp), everburning torch, small pouch of artifacts (hair, fingernail clippings, used handkerchiefs, and a pearl earring worth 50 gp), 3 pp.
"Wow, they were loaded. Too bad most of this stuff is too big for me. Though I could wear this."
Runt snags the medallion and puts it on since it looks pretty and valuable and useful.
"I can also use this to some effect."
She also takes the scroll of see invisibility - though if someone else want's to claim it she would not put up a fight.
Forest steps inside the monsters reach and attacks with sword and shield, but, still tired from his swim, his attacks are clumsy.
Looking over the things which came from the two women, Camil's eyes light up, Hey this scroll might be the key to breaking through, use the scroll, put some or all of them to sleep?
He shrugs, offering the scroll to Zherxikas.
"I could definitely use the bow and we can sell the sword. I can also use the armor, although I just got this," he says, thumping his scale armor with his fist. "I believe Isabella can also use it so it might be best for her to take it. Just about any of us can use the cloak I think. Zherxikas can take the scrolls and wand," Lavanor says as they grab everything.
"That sounds like a plan, Camil. If the goblins are asleep, that would make it easier to charge in there. We should at least tie her up first," he says motioning to Lyrie.
Forest's attacks are just unable to get past the things thick hide. Then it retaliates. Again it just misses getting a grab on him and its stinger skips off his armor.
The team hands out the items quickly amongst themselves (they can help Isabella quickly switch armors as well if you wish). About that time the clattering stops. It is likely they have finished building their pyre. A quick look around the corner confirms this.
"Or I could summon a water elemental and douse the fire, if we need more time and want to piss them off. I rather like that idea."
Forest attacks again, and again his attacks fail to effect the creature.
If we sleep the goblins at least then we'll just maybe have the human and the bugbear to deal with, What do you all think?Camil asks the group, But whatever we do, we should do it now....
Accepts the scroll and looks over it, "Yes, I can certainly cast this... won't be nearly as effective being from a scroll but it may cause some of the goblins to fall asleep." He pauses, "I also have a create pit that could potentially trap the bigger goblinoid at bottom of a 10' pit.
Camil smiles at the tiefling, Now that's a plan! Anyone else got any bright ideas? Runt can you summon another eagle like you have in the past?
"Ok, so Zherxikas casts sleep, Runt summons something to draw their attention, then Zandril and I rush into melee. Camil, if there is room you can also or attack from range. Then, Zherxikas can put the human or bugbear in a pit. I know I'm a little wounded, how about you Zandril? Isabella, are you able to heal us before we start this?," Lavanor summarizes the plan so far.
@All: yes the pile of wood is difficult terrain.
While the planning continues you hear a goblin giggle. Looking around the corner again you see him lighting the pile with a torch. They must have poured some oil on it because it lights up rather quickly.
Will move to the hallway and cast a spell.
Camil smiles at the tiefling, Now that's a plan! Anyone else got any bright ideas? Runt can you summon another eagle like you have in the past?
"Sure can. Keep them distracted."
When the action starts she will summon eagles behind the enemy.
Zherxikas casts create pit. The human man falls in but the goblin and bugbear jump clear.
The beast seems to use the shorter tentacles for movement and only lashes at Forest with the two longer ones. This time Forest is overwhelmed by the monster's attacks. The sting hits him first (3 dmg, DC 15 FOR save or 4 CON dmg and become nauseated). Then the wider grasping tentacle gets a grip on him squeezing him tightly.
DC 15 FOR save
”I was told to expect hostilities as soon as I landed. You, my friend, are far too friendly!” Forest grunts as he tries to somehow gain control of the creature.
"I don't think we have time to swap armor," says Isabella. "We can work it out later."
She grips her holy symbol and her wedding ring and releases another wave of healing power.
She kneels down by Nualia and whispers a prayer as she touches the fallen aasimar's forehead and closes her eyes.
"Goodbye, cousin. I wish it hadn't ended like this."
["This isn't how I envisioned this going. Now we have to get past the fire," he says as he looks over at Lyrie. "Whatever happens next, I don't have time to deal with you. If you hold still, hopefully it won't hurt too much," he says as he tries to knock her out with the flat of his blade.
"I said hold still," he shouts as she ducks under his attack. "We may want to reconsider going through the other door instead of trying to get past the fire, unless someone has a way to put it out. Those goblins moved a bit faster than I expected," he says to the others.
Forest manages to reverse the grapple only to have the thing that seems to have tentacles everywhere regain control.
Elsewhere: It's a cautious swing but Lavanor connects and Lyrie goes down in a heap. Nualia continues to rest peacefully after being stabilized.
Round 1 big fight
Zherxikas
Runt (summon eagle) done
Camil (double move) done
Isabella (channel) done
Lavanor (smack Lyrie) done
Zandril <== where do you want him to go/do?
This is going to be a long day.
Forest again gains the upper hand. About this time, the door opens and a pair of goblins peer into the dimly lit chamber. The ioun stone still hovering above the warrior enwrapped in tentacles as he grapples with the squid like monster. The goblins say something between themselves and then sit down to watch. The tentamort attempts to turn the tide yet again but fails to overcome Forest's mighty grip.
The monster’s gripping tentacle slides off Forest’s smooth armor and he gains a better grip against the creature. He looks up at some point and is vaguely able to make out two greenish creatures in the dim light just beyond the light cast by his ioun stone. ”Well well well. The masters of the house have shown themselves. Shorter than I expected.”
Runt's eagle, after appearing behind the enemy, launches into a vicious attack on the nearest goblin.
HP: 7
AC: 14
SR: 7
Move, primordial: 90' flight, average man.
Senses low-light vision; Perception +10