Bhashir curses his poor accuracy and drops his sling and takes up his long spear charging the air elemental.
He continues to thrust his spear at the creature in desperation.
Liam glances left and right, but sees little alternative but to continue. he does switch to a more defensive posture though, struggling to keep the Gnoll away from Victrix and Sassarra.
Round 2
Sendi did finish off the massive gnoll.
24 air elemental -1-11-9-9-8-21 9/68
18 Balan
18 Goblin ally?
14 Aukan
11 Auso
11 Liam
10 Bhashir
10 Vivi
9 Sassarra
9 Victrix
8 Sendi
7 Throrgar
6 gnolls
Vs. Sendi
vs. Balan or Auso
plus poison
plus poison
The air elemental swings it arms at Sendi next slamming one of its arms hard into her, Balan is disabled but barely conscious... The goblin swings two more times barely scratching it and then steps to the side. Auso heals Balan with what he can, likely reviving the monk, as he was just disabled. Liam the gnoll before you is bleeding on the ground, Bhashir charges the elemental with his spear and hits it twice! The form is beginning to break up! Vivi casts a cure spell then steps into a threatened square to deliver the spell successfully. Though Aukan does not stir. Sassarra shoots a blast of water at the elemental doing damage but it is not apparent. Victrix with the gnoll down what do you do? Sendi hits the elemental once, damaging it a bit.
Then the other gnolls continue to focus on Balan! As their attacks come at the monk, mold quickly envelops the man and negates all of the attacks.
Round 4
Your friends falling around you, how charming, and how regular, now if your were to pay proper obedience to queen Eiseth my dear
Spoke to mocking voice in Vivis head
F%%+ YOU, and F!*& THIS F@@~ING FART CLOUD, I would rather flirt ith Nocticula, at least she has a sense of humor Was Vivis mental awnswer, as she dropped her bow and grabbed the Adamatine normal sized Greatsword that Aukan offered her earlier.
The big boy should at least be stabilized, we need to finish the fart cloud with delusions of grandeur!
She shouts.
Bhashir continues his assault on the elemental.
As the big gnoll goes down, she begins to think that we might survive. Though she isn't doing as much as others, she does what she can to help...
...but watches her blast turned into spray by the elemental's winds.
Sendi took the blow and kept on going, swinging away with fist and foot. She worried that the commotion would bring more gnolls and their allies, and then what would they do? They had to finish this enemy off quickly, heal their wounds, and keep moving. The idea of being in chains once more sent a shiver down her spine.
The monk sways on his feet, barely standing even with Auso's healing touch. As yet another arrow strikes him, and more gnolls close in, a moldy film envelops Balan. He speaks, another voice distorting his own, "Every arrow I survive makes me stronger. Every strike I draw is one that cannot strike at the innocent. Every blow I land is one blow closer to peace for this land. By the Master of Masters, we will defeat you!" Drawing the blade from the courtyard, he strikes out at the gnoll nearest Victrix.
Round 4
Liam pauses for a moment to size up the elemental, then attacks it again.
Round 4
Bhashir's spear did not seem to connect like it had before you must have missed it somehow.
Vivi and Sendi hit the elemental with their weapons, though Liam's movement opened him to the long stretch of the elemental's arms. It swings and the arm slams Liam hard to the ground. *Whack!!!* With a roar of wind the air elemental dissipates like a failing twister. Then it was gone.
Auso hits the black gnoll before him, piercing its chest. The dog man squeals in pain and that is cut short as you may have pierced a lung. Balan breaks free from the mold and comes in with a sweeping kick which is harmlessly parried though the upper cut haymaker smashes into the gnoll's jaw. Between the two of you, the gnoll drops to the ground.
Sassarra's blast does turn to spray upon the winds of the elemental.
The goblin seeing the elemental dealt with he moves to Aukan, putting one of his kukri's away. Then touching his unholy symbol with kukri in hand, touches Aukan with the free hand. "Mother help us all, bring back this fighter for us... for your glory!"
As there is only 3 gnolls left they retreat. The yellow one holds up its scimitar in a completely defensive move, The other two go the other way stowing their bows and pulling free their scimitars.
Round 5 - almost out of combat!
Ahahahah
Why leave the smeshing to the others, sister? Speaks a female, Irriseni accented voice in her head.
The f#!~ are you, you arent the usual black winged prick?
Your brain is a bit of a mental thoroughfare and rather easy to access kinswomen, wide open mental spaces and all that. The black winged prick challenged me to a contest of minds, so I headbutted her in her stupid face. Effing devils Cuka-Blyad. I was kind of here to pick up Mr. Aukan, but I guess he is not dying and I kind of want some fun so, this Vivi receives mental instruction Is how you hit a small target like a Gnolls dick with an overhead blow from a greatsword. No go forth and smesh Sister!
Can I like, trade you for the black winged prick-b*~+@?
Not really, Valkyries dont do possession.
He eyes Glowing with Rage, Vivi moves (cant charge) at the next Gnoll and applies the greatsword.
DEATH TO FART CLOUDS, DEATH TO SLAVERS, GNOLLS HAVE SMALL COCKS
Totally servicable war cry, for a first effort I give it a 6/10. Commented the voice inside her.
+2 if flanking
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Without warning a green hue covers Vivi, dark green glowing runes appear along the blade. As it strikes the gnoll a strong strange feminine voice can be heard, "Totally servicable war cry, for a first effort I give it a 6/10."
The blade gains weight in her hands. The holy symbol of Gorum appears from one of the runes and solidifies there.
With a great overhead swing Vivi cuts the gnoll in two from skull to groin.
Vivi turns to the remaining Gnolls, pure murder in her eyes.
До свидания
As she charges them, laying down vicious strikes with her Greatsword and moving with.
She giggles maniacally between blows, singing
STAB STAB STAB STAB STAB, STABBITTY STABBITTY STAB! as she impales one Gnoll on her Greatsword, lifts it up and headbuts its face into a very surprised bloody pulp.
As the battle ends, Vivi returns to being more normal, looks at her position on the battle, and does a quizzing look at the Gnoll impaled on her suddenly rune encrusted greatsword.
Uhhmm, guys, what the flying f$~@ happened?
As she moves to pick up her dropped composite longbow.
Sister? You still there? That was pretty cool, I am actually sad you dont do possession. Vivi thinks as she is moving
Dont worry Sister, I do do personal coaching with willing mortals, provided you allow me to broadcast selected clips of you and your parties combat-antics on Gorrum-Gram, the best metaverse channel for hilarious fantasy fights, it is kind of like Nocticulas Abyss-Tube but with much less Porn.
Deal. Is Vivis mental answer.
Sendi looked askew at Varvara, seeing the look of murder in the woman's eyes. It seemed unnatural to her, which was saying something given her orcish heritage. But that was not what was truly important. Balan was alive, which was very welcome news, for she was not ready to mourn her mentor. But the goliath was still down, and that shook her. She had never seen him so vulnerable before. To call him a mountain of a man would be an understatement, for he was a larger than life figure and she had truly believed that nothing could have brought him low. Seeing him bleeding on the ground made it feel like her stomach was in her throat. It wasn't so much as seeing a friend or a comrade in trouble. No, she had seen him as being more of a demigod. A larger than life figure for whom defeat seemed to be as impossible as the sun not rising. And now that had been proven wrong.
"Can someone help him?" She asked, as she knelt down besides him. Her own grace so woefully limited, for she was far, far from being a cleric. Still, she did what little she could.
Sassarra will move up to keep firing at the retreating gnolls. Even if they are defensive, we need them to stay back long enough to heal people.
Oh f$&+ right, I can still heal, hold out big guy
Vivi runs to Aukan and applies 3 doses of CLW from the wand.
As Sendi touches him with her healing hand and with the other healing from Vivi and the goblin, he opens his eye, grits his teeth and groans out, "Balthazar!" Almost like a curse.
He sits up with a start and quickly takes in the situation and nods to the group, "Well done companions! New and old."
Then to each of his healers he says his thanks. He still had his large greatsword in hand and used it to help him get back to his feet. Then he states, "Heal my heel." Then another flash of healing washes over him and one of the sunstones does not glow any more. He then pulls out two potions and drinks them. Then he asks, "How is everyone faring? Should we fall back and rest? I could use a lot more healing..."
”Do we have a safe place to rest? I think it would make sense to heal as much as we can as we keep moving. More gnolls we be drawn to the sounds of battle. Resting for several hours feels a tad optimistic to me.”
The goblin offers in his screeching voice, "You are welcome to my lair to the South. Though truly resting might be out of the option with all of the unchosen below making their ruckus."
The recently freed slaves find another piece of their stolen property.
Searching the bodies of the gnolls little treasure is found, though they have the +1 studded leather, composite longbow, arrows, a potion of cure light. Aukan now has the running total of loot found on his character sheet.
"We could go back to the tunnels that brought us here. Close it somehow and post several guards. There was a few rooms that we explored that we could close the door and rest within. Though how are all your spells and such that is what I was moreso asking." He offers.
"I am unhurt so far, with great thanks to our brave warriors." says Sassarra. She bows deeply to each individually, cleaning off the blood and sweat with cool water that flows off to leave them completely dry.
"My magic flows deeper than the oceans and will never run dry. I will break long before it fails me. It would be me honor to keep watch, my ma..." She stops herself, as they have instructed her not to use this title. "... my valiant companions."
She turns, something catching her eye. She goes over to one of the corpses and flushes out it's eyes. Two lenses of crystal wash free. [b]"Perhaps these will be useful to somebody." she offers.
Varvara find her masterwork breastplate among the loot, and immidiatly puts it on.
I can cast 2 more spells. Both of them I would prefer to cast prior to battle, leaving me with little flexibility if we enter another one.
I believe I can enlarge you to a truely large size Aukan, but if I do this I or someone else needs to also magically increase your defenses, our you become too easy too hit.
Varvara is in favor of resting, and would apply her 2 remaining casts to heal either Balan or Aukan, whoever is hurting more.
Perhaps we can organize our wroth better? Not long ago it would have been my role to scout ahead, although the shadows no longer bless me in this endeavor. I believe I can unleash as much damage as Aukan on a single blow if I use Lord Gorums gifts to increase my size, but I am relatively frail and an easy target for archers.
"I could use some healing, if there's a potion or wand to spare." Liam says, picking himself up and dusting himself off. "Though if we're resting I can handle it myself."
"I presently have mage armor upon my body and before battle I will cast shield as well. Is there any other protections someone can offer? Okay we are pushing forward, I will drink more potions."
He then says, "heal my heel," and touches his belt which another sunstone stops glowing.
"Sassarra, Balan is gravely wounded. If your magic is as boundless as you say, could you help him?"
A look of panic crosses her face as she realizes her error. She drops to her knees, "I am sorry. I can use my magic all day without expending it, but it is limited in what I can do with it. It is useful for attack and defense and cleaning and thirst, but I have not yet unlocked more."
She is still holding out the crystal lenses, offering them up.
I can protect people from evil for about 3 minutes per casting, it offers about as much protection as a good heavy shield against evil creatures, and the protection can be had in addition to a shields or armor.
She then walks over to Liam, who gets a hug that looks like a curious mix between seductive embrace and bear hug.
As she whispers:
So what was a hot guy like you doing in a Ladies Bag?
Balan gets 3 quite energetic Vivi-hugs(nothing to do with Vivisectionist!). Which are more on the bear hug side of the spectrum.
He feels much better now.
"What are those lenses? Do you recognize them? Dont be so dramatic, leave that to the bard." He questions mostly towards Sassarra also he points with a thumb in the general direction of Victrix. "I have 2 more potions and one charge on my belt still. Too bad we don't have a cleric who can channel."
"Shall we check each of these doors first?" He asks as he moves to open a door.
They are all storerooms containing poorly preserved meat, barrels of water, poorly maintained weapons and armor, and other supplies like clothing, rope, nails, tools, and in a few foul-smelling barrels, a revolting “drink” made from fermented hyaenodon milk.
It should be noted that gnolls (like hyenas) possess rather caustic stomach acids capable of digesting all manner of organic materials, even bones. While they can easily stomach this drink, any non-gnoll foolish enough to sample it must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or become nauseated for 1d10 rounds and then be sickened for an additional 1d6 hours.
The wall has several small vents 9 feet off the
ground that ensure at least some flow of fresh air between
this room and most likely another room. These vents are only a few
inches across—too small to navigate, but enough to hint to a chamber beyond the wall.
The other rooms to the South you find tattered blankets and beds. Debris fills the rooms and have many pungent odors.
There is a room to the North and hallways around it, some of it is caved in.
Nope
Vivi walks next to Aukan, and recasts divine favor on herself.
1 spellslot left.
Vivi helps with identifying.
At Aukan's rebuke, she is physically trembling and flushing a deep blue. She is trying to control it, but failing. She's instinctively tensing for a blow from the giant warrior. But not dodging away.
When no blow comes, she calms slightly. "My mother had tales of swimming in the vast oceans. She was captured and brought as a trophy concubine to a powerful man. When I was born, I had the gift of water. this made me valuable for caravans across the desert. I went through many owners before being captured by the gnolls."
He sees Victrix clean herself up and offer the service for free! In an almost soft voice he would politely say, "Yes please."
---
Speaking with Sassarra he calmly raises his free hand lays it gently on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. He strongly states, "I will always free slaves, you have shown your worth to be one of my companions." He chuckles a bit and moves his free hand in the direction of the rest of the group in a slow slash and continues, "You have all shown your worth. May you remember this day and fight with us against the forces of darkness."
Sendi put a hand on the undine’s shoulder. In a gentle voice she said ”I understand how you feel. My parents sold me into bondage and when I was first freed it was as if invisible chains still weighed me down. It will take some time. But trust us that you have nothing to fear from us.” With a small smile she added ”It will get better.”
To remind you what you see:
H3: Main Hall
Thick pillars of stone line this oversized hall, draped in cobwebby ropes strung with tattered prayer flags. Along the north and south walls, various doors, arches, and stairwells offer exit. In the center of the room a pair of elaborately tiled, diamond- shaped columns etched with coils of twisting vermin rise up; the column to the east is hollow and contains an ancient iron staircase that spirals down into darkness.
The secret door opens to a small room inside the pillar. Holes in the room allow anyone inside to hear and see things occurring within the rest of the hallway, seemingly without being detected. The chamber amplifies words spoken within the exterior chamber, granting listeners a +4 circumstance bonus to Perception checks made while enclosed within.
H4. The Sickening Pool
A wide archway opens into a large square room. Along the room’s outer walls, statues of robed, morbidly obese humans sit cross-legged, perhaps in some sort of praying position. The heads of all the statues have been smashed off. In their place rest small piles of humanoid skulls. In the center of the room four iron braziers surround a marble font half full of brownish, stagnant-looking water.
H5. Gnoll Barracks
The three rooms in this wing are all identical—each contains six or so cramped, nest-like beds cluttered with bits of rotten meat, bone, and matted gnoll fur. These rooms reek particularly strongly of gnoll urine.
H6. Clogged Passage
This hallway has mostly collapsed—the gnolls never bothered to clear out the tunnels. Manually clearing the earth from this tunnel takes 1d4 hours of work per 10 feet. Burrowing creatures can move through the rubble with ease.
H8. Western Exit
Piles of broken stone partially block this archway. Several hideous scarecrows made from the headless corpses of slain troglodytes stand propped against the walls here.
Now having found stairs, that the gnolls likely had come from he states quietly, "I am going down looking for more foes. The other areas look relatively safe, no threats coming out to attack anymore."
Down at the base of the stairs he takes some chalk and marks an arrow to show which way he went, then decides to stay right. He feels like he is going in a circle, especially when he finds the same stairway he came down and his mark. He then goes North to a set of doors. Opening them slowly after listening to them he finds:
I6 Lower Hall
An extended hall stretches between various chambers and arches. In the center of the hall a hollow diamond-shaped column decorated with elaborate tile mosaics frames a spiral staircase. Strewn about the dusty floor lie a dozen or so humanoid bones, cracked and gnawed with teeth marks.
He marks the wall with an arrow pointing right, sticks to the right. and comes to a long hallway with double doors right in front of him. He doesn't see anything to the left or right and listens to this door.
He whispers to those at his back, "I hear voices, anyone else want to take a listen or should we charge into the room?"
While Aukan is searching, Sassarra is beginning to purify the pool. Each round she can purify 3 cubic feet of water.Even if she can't completely purify it, she should be able to make it less deadly.
Sassarra is able to purify the whole pool of water in a minute or two.
She then walks over to Liam, who gets a hug that looks like a curious mix between seductive embrace and bear hug.
As she whispers:
** spoiler omitted **
no one stated they needed to rest, thus Aukan took potions to heal up. Then he began searching for more foes. Not finding any one this level he went down...
With a trusty sidekick behind him.