Everyone prepares, in their own way. Mostly just getting weapons out and readying to defend themselves. Dran invokes the blessing of his god. And then Kaztor leads them in further.
As they come around the first corner, the enemy thing shows its face! It growls. And looks very hungry. Foul-smelling fluids ooze from weeping sores across the scaly skin of this squat, powerful, and vaguely canine beast.
Drakken inspires the crap out of everyone. He finally feels loved as the dwarves listen intently to his story.
But even with encouragement, Bilos simply can't get a clear shot off, too many dwarves in the way. His stone slams into the ceiling.
Halali takes the long way around to wisely try to set up a flank on this beast.
And finally, someone recognizes what it is! This is a Trollhound, just as horrible as you might think. Generally Neutral Magical Beasts, one would suspect some a+*$#&# wizard in the long distant past created these abominations. The Magi doesn't know a lot, but he does know they regenerate wounds and can be effectively immortal due to this. Only if injured by fire or acid will this regeneration temporarily stop.
He regrets learning an energy bolt made of ice, but manages to land a solid blow regardless.
Round 1: What the hell is that thing! Group Buffs: Inspire Courage +1
Stinky Trollhound(-8 HP)
Bilos
Phantom
Halali
The Magi
Dran (Divine Favor 9 rds)
Kaztor
Grunigon
Ander
Bold may act! Trained K: Arcana to learn more tidbits.
Male Paladin 3 (Torag) | HP 34/34 | AC 19/10/19| F+8,R+3,W+7 (+2 to poison, spell, SLA | Init+0, Perc+1(+3 v stonework) | Speed 20 | Darkvision 60’ | CMD 15 (19 v trip and bullrush if on the ground) | Temp:
Kaz blocks the beast with his shield and spins his hammer as he tries to strike a mighty blow.
Attack with IC 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8
Damage with IC 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12
Male N Dwarf Rogue (Sylvan Trickster) 3 | HP 27/27 | AC 14 T 12 FF 12 | CMB +3, CMD 15 +4 vs Bullrush or Trip | F: +4, R: +5, W: +3 | Init: +4 | Perc: +7 (darkvision 60 ft.), SM: +7 | Speed 20 ft. | Active conditions: None
Grunigon sees Halali heading to the left, possibly around the battle, and follows. He pulls a dart from his sash as he moves around just in case he spots a target not already surrounded by dwarves. Double move
Male Warpriest 3| HP 17/28 | AC 21/23, T 11, FF 20 | CMB +5 CMD 16/20 | F: +6, R: +4, W: +6, Note: +3 vs. poison, +5 vs. spells| Init: +1 | Perc: +3 (darkvision 60 ft.), SM: +3 Dwarven Warpriest of Gorum
Meh. Will not squeeze. Would risk the AOO. So will take the double move.I will note that had we gone initiative order Dran would have gone before Kaz...
Male Paladin 3 (Torag) | HP 34/34 | AC 19/10/19| F+8,R+3,W+7 (+2 to poison, spell, SLA | Init+0, Perc+1(+3 v stonework) | Speed 20 | Darkvision 60’ | CMD 15 (19 v trip and bullrush if on the ground) | Temp:
Kaz didn’t give up as his god was protecting him from the bite of the mangy beast, but he had to admit that it would be great to actually hit the thing. He was beginning to realize that he might not quite be good at this adventuring lifestyle after all.
Attack with IC 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 1 = 13
Damage with IC 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5
Female Dwarf UnMonk 1 / Unsworn 2| hp 25/28 | AC 23 T 16 FF 21 (+2 dodge vs flyers) | F:+5 R:+4 W:+6; hardy, +2vs electricity | CMD 25 | Init +2 | Perc +9 (+2 vs flyers), darkvision
Halali sees the boys coming up behind. She glances over her shoulder.
"Coordinate attacks! Grunigon, you throw that dart from up close before Dran and I go melee."
There's enough room for Grunigon to get a shot without cover (from the square immediately NE of Halali), then Halali can jink round to engage the trollhound without drawing an AoO and Dran can just walk 10' east and attack.
assuming the boys cooperate:
sansetsukon vs hound:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10damage:1d10 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 flank possible depending on the phantom
dwarf gunslinger(musketeer) 3, HP 31, AC/T/FF 18/14/14, F/R/W +6/+6/+5. Perc +9, lowlight, Init +5
Son of a motherless goatherder! Know i should have tightened that blasted nut! Ande swear as he fixes his gun in a blur of stubby fingers, spit and cigar smoke. He takes his powder horn and quickly loads another round.
you'd better work this time, you stupid thing! I'll melt ya down and make fishing hooks out of ya!
doing a quick clear..spending a grit to do it as a move..and reload as a standard...one grit spent...
Male Jealousy Phantom (Marshal) of Bilos 1 | HP 5/11 | Ecto: AC 14 T 12 FF 12 DR 5/slash | Incor: AC 15 T 15 FF 13 | CMB+2, CMD 14 | F: +1, R: +4, W: +2| Init: +2 | Perc: +4 (darkvision 60 ft.) | Speed 30 ft. | Inspire 3/3 | Current State: Ectoplasmic | Active conditions: None
Draken shoves himself through a wall, leaving a film of slime on the rock, and emerges next to the creature. For the most part - it's hard to tell if he is completely through the stone or it's just extra goopy. He continues his inspiration.
Weekends are hecka hectic for me (in general) and I had Friday off and we took a family trip this weekend and I took a Monday off work too. Just letting you all know I am still here and will move combat along when I get home sometime tomorrow, hopefully!
Draken starts oozing through the rock, who knows where he is going. Bilos launches a really nice smooth stone, but the trollhound ducks at the last second and it slams into the rockface right as the phantom's head pops out. He says, "OYE! WATCHIT! I'M OOZIN' HEAH!"
Things only get worse from there!
The group on the backside coordinate a little but, but end up just talking too much and then rushing their attacks. Grunigon tosses his dart, but jerks his arm to the left too quick and it goes wide. Dran steps up and swings hard, just barely missing the beast as it drops low to duck the blade. Halali tries to catch it on the ground, but as she swings she doesn't notice the small ridge of rock that deflects her weapon and leaves bruised knuckles.
The Magi is less successful this time, blasting his ice just past Kaztor, almost crisping his beard up! Which throws the paladin's attack just a bit off. Enough that the hit doesn't connect with enough power to penetrate skin (miss, description was flavor).
At least the gunsmith manages to get his rifle back in order!
Male Paladin 3 (Torag) | HP 34/34 | AC 19/10/19| F+8,R+3,W+7 (+2 to poison, spell, SLA | Init+0, Perc+1(+3 v stonework) | Speed 20 | Darkvision 60’ | CMD 15 (19 v trip and bullrush if on the ground) | Temp:
Kaz grits his teeth and tries to push the bad thoughts out of his head. He swings the hammer again.
Attack with IC 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 = 17
Damage with IC 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10
The dwarves finally get some things squared away and start looking a bit more like a decent group of pathfinders.
Kaz's blow lands with a solid *crunch* of bone breaking beneath his hammer. The Magic drills an icicle into the creature's face, about an inch to the left it might have taken out an eye.
But sadly Ander is just too anxious to get a shot off and pulls the trigger before lining up the shot. He is really having a rough go.
Round 3: Crap, it can heal! Group Buffs: Inspire Courage +1
Stinky Trollhound (-17 HP)
The Magi
Kaztor
Ander
Bilos
Phantom (Squeezing)
Grunigon
Dran (Divine Favor 7 rds)
Halali
Male Warpriest 3| HP 17/28 | AC 21/23, T 11, FF 20 | CMB +5 CMD 16/20 | F: +6, R: +4, W: +6, Note: +3 vs. poison, +5 vs. spells| Init: +1 | Perc: +3 (darkvision 60 ft.), SM: +3 Dwarven Warpriest of Gorum
[ooc]Not sure if you accepted my initial swing, which was a 21 or my rejected it and used my backup which was only a 10. You hinted that I barely missed. I know a 10 was well short of barely missing so does that mean a 21 barely missed?, if so, yikes![ooc]
Dran steps to make room for more attackers and swings again.
I take the current turn's rolls and unless I specifically mention an alternative option, will always do that. The 'barely missed' was more flavor* than giving away a specific AC. And as you may note by Kaztor's action and hit, a 17 is more than the creature's AC. We shall see if a 15 is enough, read on!
Halali waits see if anyone jumps into a flanking position for her.
Dran doesn't care about flanking or organizing a tactical approach. This creature is probably evil and most certainly needs chopped up into bits. So he swings hard, adding his frustrations from his last miss into the weight of the weapon.
It chops down and almost decapitates the critter, slicing deeply through the thick neck. The body collapses to the ground in a twitching pile, unconscious.
Round 3: Crap, it can heal! Group Buffs: Inspire Courage +1
Stinky Trollhound (-33 HP, dying & unconscious)
The Magi
Kaztor
Ander
Dran (Divine Favor 6 rds)
Bilos
Phantom (Squeezing)
Grunigon
Halali (delayed)
It takes a few seconds to get coordinated, but the dwarves know what to do.
Ander moves up and very carefully aims at the beast, putting a very large hole in it that will take a hecka long time to heal. Grunigon pours oil over the body and head and while Halali tried to get there first, Bilos is ready and gets the oil burning.
It smells really bad, but the body certainly stops twitching and eventually burns up completely. Just charred pieces that will harm no one ever again.
___________________
The pack of dwarves fan out and search the cavern, locating a fancy little room in the back!
Several desks are arranged along the northern and eastern edges of this small stone alcove. Whereas the stonework leading to this chamber is rough, the walls in the alcove are polished. A single gem rests among the neatly filed papers on the desk, emitting a soft luminescence that brightens the small room.
Ander doesn't find anything hidden or unusual, though it was a smart idea to check over everything. He does note that the glowing gem should probably be brought back to include with their report, it is too valuable to be left here.
Dran dismisses the trollhound's dangerousness. Perhaps he is right. Perhaps though the hound being trapped here for such a long time made it forget how to bite things.
Male Paladin 3 (Torag) | HP 34/34 | AC 19/10/19| F+8,R+3,W+7 (+2 to poison, spell, SLA | Init+0, Perc+1(+3 v stonework) | Speed 20 | Darkvision 60’ | CMD 15 (19 v trip and bullrush if on the ground) | Temp:
”Yep, languages aren’t my thing. I barely follow dwarvish well enough. I’d take all this back to the smart folk and get it translated.”
The group collects anything that isn't nailed down, and some things that are. Wisely deciding to allow the experts at the grand lodge to figure this stuff out, they head back there.
Locating Dreng in his office he waves them in. With a twinkle in his eye he asks, "Find anything interesting? I heard from Janira you all were investigating something odd."
