If the map is correct, you should be almost to the Temple after following the trail through the dense Q'barran jungle for many long days. The hot sun beats down upon you through the canopy above, and the drone of insects and calls of various jungle animals fill the air. As you slap another swarm of insects away, you notice that the trail ahead grows noticeably wider, and is mostly clear of debris and undergrowth. Two birds, both with vibrant red and purple plumage, take to the air from a nearby tree and fly off.
Hathir trudges through the underbrush behind Kaezen, totally obivious to his surroundings. Sweat beeds arounds his eyes and drips down his face, plastering his stray strands of hair to his head.
Untouched by the insects and unaffected by the scorching heat, Mender marches tall along the jungle path with his companions, taking sure step after sure step. As he was trained to do, he keeps a look out on these foreign surroundings, hoping that no jungle predators stumble upon his group.
Shinus' Spot is 23 (1d20+12=23)
(Traveling in his dog form) Shinus is enjoying the trek through this jungle, the plants and insects are amazing her.
Leading the way, the armored guard slashes his way through the dense foliage with his axe, whistling a slight tune to himself under his breath and keeping his shield at hand in case of ambush.
A hiss of air follows a volley of small arrows fired from the brush. You hear your unseen assailants shifting within the foliage, but can see no sign of them.
A pair of arrows fly out of nowhere at Aldren but bounce harmlessly off his armor. Another arrow strikes Hathir, piercing through the elf's shiftweave garment and into his flesh. Mere moments later, a feeling of intense sickness grips the illusionist.
"Ambush! Stay together!" The defender calls out as he raises his shield against the incoming attacks.
Mender is caught completely off-guard by the sudden attack, and is now attempting to collect his thoughts in order to enter the fray.
Kaezen would most likely have been up near the front, just behind Aldren. Normally he'd take point, but in the jungle I'd let Aldren in his heavy armor cut us a path.
With my spot check earlier, did I detect where the arrows are coming from?
"Myl os ei paer cestol jhojas jhylaes!" Hathir swears, looking down in disbeliefe and clutching at the arrow sticking out of him.
He tries to place himself between the brutes leading this expidition and the ones hidden out there in the jungle. "Poison!" he coughs, trying to surpress a wave of nausia. "The arrows are poisoned!"
Shinus is startled by the sudden break to the serenity of the groups constant rhythm, he hunkers lower to the ground while trying to focus on any noise in the surrounding area.
With my spot check earlier, did I detect where the arrows are coming from?
Another volley of arrows flies out from the thick foliage, this time consisting of four arrows that are targeted at the heavily armored Deneith heir. The arrows seem to be coming from the same place as before: a little ways up and off the path. Three of the small arrows fail to do any damage, but one arrow manages to plunge into an unarmored part of his leg. Blood wells up around the arrow and oozes down to the dark brown earth beneath Aldren's feet. Soon, the injured leg begins to burn and throb as the poison on the arrow's tip seeps into the Deneith heir's veins.
Still gripping the arrow that protrudes from his torso, Hathir reaches back, shoves his free hand into his pack and removes a small slender wand with iron gauntlet for a handle. "Aelasi" he says pointing the wand at Aldren.
Time seems to stand still, just for a moment, and then with an almost imperceptable -thwump- Aldren explodes, doubling in size.
Hearing another flight of arrows and the thud followed by Aldren's grunt he charges forward and jumps and in a flash transforms into a great Eagle and soars further down the path letting out a piercing eagle war cry while looking to both sides for the assailants. A contrail of magical flame trailing from his mouth as he lets out his war cry.
Kaezen quickly glances around Aldren, and then the Dragonmark on his chest glows through his tunic.
Appearing 70' down the trail, Kaezen quickly takes a step or two off the path and crouches, hopefully concealed from the snipers by the jungle foliage.
Peering up and down the trail, Kaezen tries to spot the archers ambushing his friends, while readying a shuriken from his belt pouch. Perhaps more importantly, Kaezen also attempts to see if any of the snipers are lobbing arrows at his new position.
Hathir swings his head from left to right, quickly scanning the jungle foliage ahead for any sign of their enemy, just as Kaezen disappears. Blast the man! So much for scaring whatever these savages were off...
Aldren winces from the hit, keeping his head low and his shield high as the wizard's spell enlarges him. While he would be an easier target now, that was preferable to the Deneith guardsman than having his companions be the target of their arrows. Seeing the wizard already in pain, Aldren's Dragonmark flares to life as he activates it's ability on him before stepping closer to the arrow fire. With his increased size, his voice booms like a thunderbolt as he steps forward:
"How dare you attack the charges of House Deneith! Stand forward and face me, you cowards!"
Suddenly, from the north you all hear murmured chanting and rustling through the bushes.
DM Questions:
Since I dimension leaped 70' north of Aldren along the trail and then stepped into the bushes to hide, did the Lizardman:
A) Appear to spot me
B) Move through my threatened area and trigger an attack of opportunity?
Did Shinus Fiery Burst one of the Lizardmen?
Moving to attempt to take cover from the hail of arrows and to make sure his enemy is within range, Mender draws his crossbow and fires at the only target that he can see: the lizardfolk with the onyx amulet.
Attack roll/Damage roll: (1d20+5=9, 1d8=3)
Disconcerted by the sudden ambush, his aim is not at its best. He calmly draws another bolt and gets ready to load it into his crossbow.
DM Questions:
** spoiler omitted **
Did Shinus Fiery Burst one of the Lizardmen?
Answers:
The amulet-wearing lizardfolk, not seeing the hidden Orien heir, leaves himself open for attack as he moves through the underbrush.
Flying overhead, Shinus spots the enemy lizardfolk, which you all believe to be members of the tribe of poison dusk lizardfolk the group of lizardfolk pilgrims told you about a few days back, which must mean you are close to the temple.
Mender's bolt goes wide and is lost within the underbrush.
Another two arrows fly with a hiss from the underbrush, and one hits the Deneith heir.
The defender grunts as the arrow strikes him, but shrugs off the pain and focuses on providing a distraction for his allies.
Kaezen swiftly surges out of the undergrowth and kicks at the amulet-wearing lizardfolk as it runs past, attempting to knock it down.
The lizardfolk's legs are swept out from under him, and he falls face-first into the dirt.
The lizardfolk's legs are swept out from under him, and he falls face-first into the dirt.
The poison dusk dives out of the way of the blast, taking minimal burns.
Hathir traces an intricate pattern in the air before him, all the while whispering, "Maer..." over and over. At each intonation, an almost imperceptable whisp of smoke gently raps itsef around the northern lizardfolk's head before quickly dissapating into the nohingness whence it came.
Shinus pulls a wingover and comes down another 5' facing back towards the group and lizards and stops into a hover and spews forth another ball of fire that shoots forth and impacts with another loud thud as it explodes in a 5' burst.
The poison dusk lizard folk, still scorched from the last explosion, somehow manages to avoid the brunt of the second explosion.
The easternmost poison dusk suddenly drops his bow and staggers, propping himself up against the tree before tumbling to the side, eyes closed and tongue lolling out of his maw. He appears to be asleep.
Kaezen unleashes a flurry of blows against the pendant wearing lizardman that he knocked down early.
"Not so fun when someone sucker punches you, is it?"
Kaezen circles as he pummels his foe, moving to block the path to the north, thereby trapping the lizardmen between himself and the rest of the party.
If the Lizardfolk attempts to stand
Trip attack: 1d20+4+4* = 16 Touch
Trip Check: 1d20+7 = 21
Free attack if Trip Sucessful = 1d20+4+4* = 15
Damage: 1d8+3 = 5
*vs prone target
Kaezen's furious assault knocks the wind out of the downed lizardfolk, who grunts and spits out a curse. "Taakha z'ga!"
Seeing his allies having everything well in-hand, Aldren digs in, watching for any other incoming attacks.
The amulet-wearing poison dusk groans and attempts to stand up. Kaezen takes advantage of the lizardfolk's momentary lack of defense and trips the poison dusk again, following up with a powerful kick to the lizardfolk's abdomen.
Still disconcerted and oblivious to his surroundings, Mender fits the bolt into his crossbow and draws back the slide, preparing to fire at any of the other lizardfolk who move into clearer view.
The amulet-wearing poison dusk groans and attempts to stand up. Kaezen takes advantage of the lizardfolk's momentary lack of defense and trips the poison dusk again, following up with a powerful kick to the lizardfolk's abdomen.
Still disconcerted and oblivious to his surroundings, Mender fits the bolt into his crossbow and draws back the slide, preparing to fire at any of the other lizardfolk who move into clearer view.
** spoiler omitted **
Clearly the bird looks annoyed with the lizard man as its stays hovering above the path and belches out another ball of flame that speeds towards the lizard man once again and explodes in a 5' fiery burst
Mender's bolt manages to find its target through the jungle's concealing flora, pinning itself between the lizardfolk's scales.
The lizardfolk grunts in pain as the bolt pierces his burned flesh. He looks about ready to fall over as he draws arrows from his quiver and fires two shots in rapid succession. One arrow flies through the undergrowth and strikes Mender, while the other flies into the air towards Shinus but plunges into a tree limb in the jungle canopy instead.
The lizardfolk grunts in pain as the bolt pierces his burned flesh. He looks about ready to fall over as he draws arrows from his quiver and fires two shots in rapid succession. One arrow flies through the undergrowth and strikes Mender, while the other flies into the air towards Shinus but plunges into a tree limb in the jungle canopy instead.