Making soothing noises, Charles tries to calm the wary dinosaurs.
Charles carefully leaves the eggs in place, meaning to collect them later, then lets the dinosaurs free, escorting them out of the tower, and letting them roam free.
He then heads down the next corridor.
Charles easily disables it, and continues forward.
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This chamber contains a row of square columns that stretches from west to east. The columns are covered in a phosphorescent lichen glowing with a dim, green hue. Tattered black curtains hang between many of the columns, obscuring much of the room.
Of more immediate concern, are three lithe troglodytes, and their two pet Velociraptors, which they are trying to train, who react violently to Charles' sudden arrival.
Charles (-)
Archibald (-)
XS (-, -, -)
V (-, -)
Charles designates his Prey, and starts firing.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
With a shrug, Charles keeps up the pressure, encouraging Archibald to do the same.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
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|
Only one of Charles' arrows finds its mark, but Archibald's jaws prove to be much more effective, although it is clear he doesn't like the taste of Trog flesh...
...and both avoid the worst of the blast, although Archibald's chosen foe is clearly quite badly injured.
The two front ones snarl, and keep clawing at Charles...
...but only a single strike finds its mark.
Charles (-12)
Archibald (-)
XS (-13, -23, -)
V (-, -)
Still feeling quite confident defending the bottle-neck, Charles keeps firing!
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
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Charles puts a pair of arrows through the chest of his chosen target, whilst Archibald bites the head off his foe.
The two velociraptors then get quite badly electrocuted, one of the two dropping dead immediately.
The remaining Trog is a bit intimidated by this, and shouts over its shoulder, deeper into the complex:
A deeper voice growls back:
Heartened by whatever he just heard, the remaining Trog and his Velociraptor charge into melee...
...but whilst the Trog scores some lucky blows, his pet does not.
Charles (-29)
Archibald (-)
XS (-)
V (-11)
Charles shifts his focus to the remaining Trog, and keeps firing.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
Charles attempts to finish-off the injured dinosaur, by directing Archibald to 'handle' it.
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Two hulking Troglodytes, both in breastplates, and one armed with a greataxe, whilst the other holds a greatpick.
They are followed closely by a rather angry-looking deinonychus.
Charles (-29)
Archibald (-)
XL (-, -)
D (-)
Wincing, Charles picks a foe, and starts firing!
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
|
|
Charles and Archibald each deliver a single blow.
They try to demolish Archibald...
...but surprisingly, only manage to land a single blow.
Charles (-29)
Archibald (-13)
XL (-13, -4)
D (-)
Grimly, Charles keeps up the pressure.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
|
|
None of Charles' arrows find their mark, but Archibald bites hard, eliciting a screech of pain!
That distracts them enough, that both are not expecting the subsequent electrical blast, which fries the greataxe-wielder to a crisp, eliciting a screech of fury from the other one.
In a frenzy, she tries to take Archibald down...
...hitting him twice...
...whilst the Deinonychus charges into the gap, targeting Charles...
...but proves to be utterly ineffective.
Charles (-29)
Archibald (-35)
XL (-11)
D (-)
Charles starts firing at the remaining Trog...
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
|
|
Charles proves to be ineffective with his arrows once again, whilst Archibald gets in a love-bite.
The subsequent electrical discharge, on the other hand, proves to be quite effective.
Roaring, the remaining Trog keeps up its frenzied attack up Archibald...
...nearly dropping him with a blow to the abdomen...
...whilst the deinonychus keeps darting in to target Charles...
...and continues to be utterly ineffective.
Charles (-29)
Archibald (-68)
XL (-26)
D (-10)
"Scheisse!"
Charles keeps up the pressure on the Trog.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
|
|
Charles scores precisely zero hits with his arrows, but a rather insistent Archibald tears the Trog a new one, leaving it barely standing.
It then promptly drops dead when Charles electrocutes it, whilst the dinosaur dodges.
The dinosaur keeps going for Charles...
...but remains pitifully ineffective.
Charles (-29)
Archibald (-68)
D (-10)
Breathing a sigh of relief, Charles shifts his focus, and keeps firing.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
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|
Both of Charles' arrows hit, then Archibald bites it, leaving it bloody, but still (barely!) standing...
...until Charles' electrical discharge takes it out.
Charles discovers a Lesser Healing Potion, hidden in a ball of smelly mud.
This room is strewn with grasses for comfort and several pine boughs. A wide variety of leather straps, sharpened bits of obsidian, and woven vines are piled in the southwest corner.
Charles accidentally sets off a trap which covers him in smelly pine sap (which is easily removed with Prestidigitation), but also discovers a battered leather pouch contains four tiny emeralds worth 15 gp each, and a dose of cytillesh oil.
Charles spends some time carefully healing Archibald...
..and about an hour and a half later, once both have rested, and he has tossed the corpses outside, Charles continues on down the corridor.
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|
As Charles crosses the second set of pillars, he sets off an alarm trap, causing some cymbals to clatter...
...but there is no response.
Charles finds a secret door (G7), which leads to an empty room; it would appear that the Trogs don't know about this place.
This room has a sloped ceiling at the eastern end, which accommodates a staircase ascending steeply upward from the middle of the room. Round alcoves to the north and south each bear stone daises with the booted feet of a statue, but both statues are broken off at the shins.
The floor has partially collapsed here, creating a large chasm. Two exits overlook this chasm: a large room to the west and a short hall to the east. The floor of the chasm, as well as the ground within 5 feet of the chasm ledge, is covered with bat guano.
The chasm itself is dark.
Leaving the chasm alone, Charles heads upstairs.
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|
The long staircase, and the upper level, are not lit, but fortunately, Charles still has the Ringmaster' Everburning Torch.
This large, rectangular room has an arc of faintly glowing runes on the floor to the northwest. The east side of the room contains a battered xulgath corpse slumped against the wall.
Three bloated Trogs, covered in disgusting, oozing pustules, who had been studying the runes, are alerted by your torch-light, and move to attack!
Charles (-)
Archibald (-)
XB (-, -, -)
Charles Studies one of them, and starts firing!
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
"That... is disgusting!"
Nevertheless, he keeps firing.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
Grimacing, Charles lets loose with another electrical blast...
...then shifts his focus, and keeps firing.
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
Charles chugs his lesser antidote...
...then heads on to the next room.
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|
The floor in the eastern half of this room bears summoning runes similar to those in the chamber to the east (area G10).
The western wall has been badly cracked, and a jumble of mudbrick fragments lies at its base.
Charles spots a secret door (inside the summoning circle), that is closed loudly as he enters!
Not being an idiot, Charles stays outside the Circle, but will move from to room to see what is going on.
Not entirely certain what is going on, Charles opts to continue down the corridor.
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|
A campfire illuminates this long room and the row of broad, square columns bisecting it. Rough pallets for a dozen xulgaths are scattered throughout the room, and the creatures’ foul stink is strong.
Charles spots another hulking Trog 'leader' (this one armed with a greataxe), backed by two lesser warriors and a pair of tiny fiends, lazily sitting around the fire.
Spotting you, they react with alarm!
The two lesser warriors stand, draw clubs, and move forward.
XW (-, -)
Charles (-27)
Archibald (-)
XL (-)
Q (-, -)
Charles starts splatting warriors.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
|
|
Surprisingly, Charles' attacks are largely ineffective.
The leader is unimpressed that his warriors are in the way...
The two tiny fiends concentrate, and disappear from view.
The two warriors frantically club Charles...
...but don't land a single blow.
XW (-10, -3)
Charles (-27)
Archibald (-)
XL (-)
Q (-, -)
With a weary sigh, Charles keeps up the pressure.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
|
|
Two of Charles' arrows combine to leave the warrior in front of him barely standing...
...and then it is fried.
The leader roars, and moves in, swinging...
...landing a single blow.
The tiny fiends reappear behind Charles, and try to sting him!
Meanwhile, the remaining warrior keeps swinging...
...but still can't hit.
XW (-7)
Charles (-37; Fort save)
Archibald (-)
XL (-)
Q (-, -)
Charles hurriedly switches his focus to the leader.
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
|
|
Charles and Archibald both lodge solid blows, but the mighty leader remains unbowed.
Her minion dodges the electrical blast, but she takes the full effect.
Roaring in anger, she tries to carve Charles up...
...but only lands two blows, to her teeth-gnashing frustration.
Charles gets stung once...
...and then clobbered by a club.
XW (-7)
Charles (-84; Fort save)
Archibald (-)
XL (-32)
Q (-, -)
"Scheisse!"
Charles hurriedly tries to take the leader out!
He then tosses an Electric Arc...
...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.
|
|
Charles' first arrow takes out the leader, much to the distress of the remaining warrior, but them his subsequent arrows miss.
Archibald chomps down hard on one of the tiny fiends, nearly eviscerating it...
...but it subsequently burns up in the electrical discharge.
The warrior turns around, and runs away...
...shortly after which you hear a gong being sounded.
The remaining tiny fiend tries to sting Charles...
...but he avoids it.
XW (-7)
Charles (-84; Fort save)
Archibald (-)
Q (-)