As you make your way between the gnoll encampment and the abandoned village, you pass within 20' of five gnolls (stationed on the roof of a dilapidated inn) whose attention is so focussed on a possible invasion from the other side of the river that they do not see what is right beneath their noses ... not even when Lord Flash trips noisily and curses loudly.
"Keep moving," I hiss and try to move as quickly as possible past the oblivious sentries.
The party manages to make it all the way to the cliff face without being spotted by anyone other than a few of the cows that the gnolls are allowing to wander free through the streets of the abandoned town. The cows don't seem to care what you are up to.
Reaching the cliff face, you can see that the tower has been built into it but see no obvious exit at ground level.
Looking up the walls Lord whispers loudly, "does anyone see any kind of opening? We could use this gear to attempt a climb if there is a possible entrance higher up."
I scan the face of the tower looking for windows or even evidence of an opening on the roof.
There are windows but they are about 100' up, at the point where the tower begins to break away from the cliff. The windows appear small and narrow and it is not easy to judge whether the largest of you would be able to get through them.
Tallis looks up at the windows, debating whether or not to climb up.
"I can use gnomish magic to get up there and secure a rope, or at least search for some closer means of entrance."
Tallis:
[spoile]Tallis notices a worn, but not recently used, trail leading up the side of the cliff. It isn't heading towards the tower but there appears to be a crevice or a cave at the top.[/spoiler]
"So shall we be scaling the sides of the tower then," I say, trying to sound upbeat as I look up towards the windows. "Thats a good distance."
Tallis:
Spoiler:Tallis notices a worn, but not recently used, trail leading up the side of the cliff. It isn't heading towards the tower but there appears to be a crevice or a cave at the top.
"Hey, there's a cave over there, maybe we should go take a look."
"That would be very much preferable. Lead the way."
"I'll save my gnome magic for later" says Bandle with a wink.
"I have to say that not alot of donkeys or good dogs live in caves...I find them damp and generally miserable unless worked with the appropriate amount of attention to detail"
Lord pointedly ignores Jackie's comment about his prowess in sneaking.
He looks over at Tallis, then to where he has indicated. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. The cave is the most likely source of entry to the place."
It's an easy climb to the crevice. Once inside, it is easy to locate a long thin tunnel climbing up and back in the direction of the tower. It is crawling room only and you'd have to go one at a time.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," I say and pop into the tunnel first, figuring my height makes me a likelier fighter in the small tunnel.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," I say and pop into the tunnel first, figuring my height makes me a likelier fighter in the small tunnel.
LJ crawls and climbs at a steep angle for about 70'. The tunnel comes to an end at a short, sharp drop -- easily manageable even for someone LJ's size -- into a small dark chamber.
If necessary I will scoot back out to get a light once I realize its dark in there.
LJ gets the sunrod and returns to the top of the tunnel. Dropping in and looking around he finds himself in a long narrow chamber, just about the right size to hold a human body lying down, which is exactly what it holds. Something other than LJ has disturbed this man's eternal sleep though. The bones are in a disarray and the door that leads from this burial chamber to the main room is slightly ajar.
I head back down, explain what I found and then once more lead the way into the tunnel, this time expecting the others to follow me. Once past the bones I cautiously try to exit the tomb.
I head back down, explain what I found and then once more lead the way into the tunnel, this time expecting the others to follow me. Once past the bones I cautiously try to exit the tomb.
You're trying to move a small stone door that once sealed this tomb. I'll need a stealth check if you want to do that quietly.
Stealth check: (1d20+13=15)
LJ manages to open the stone barrier to the burial chamber and draw it inside. Through the opening he sees a gigantic oval shaped cavern with fifty-foot high circular walls. A fountain in the center runs dark red.
There are dozens of small doors, each marked with a three-eyed jackal's head, and each about the size of the one LJ just pulled into the burial chamber.
A large gnoll prays and laps at the dark red water in the fountain. She hasn't noticed you.
I creep out of the crypt and slowly draw out my crossbow while I wait for the others. As soon as she notices me, I will fire, regardless of whether or not the others are in the room.
Bandle is right there, although I don't know that he could have seen that as the chamber is barely man sized. No one specified a marching order but Bandle is likely next due to not wanting to be behind clumsy large folk.
I creep out of the crypt and slowly draw out my crossbow while I wait for the others. As soon as she notices me, I will fire, regardless of whether or not the others are in the room.
Bandle is right there, although I don't know that he could have seen that as the chamber is barely man sized. No one specified a marching order but Bandle is likely next due to not wanting to be behind clumsy large folk.
Bandle slips from the burial chamber into the much larger room and prepares to attack the gnoll if she turns around.
1d20+2=14
The gnoll stops lapping from the fountain--What is that? Blood?--and turns to Tallis. "The smell gives you away, human," she turns towards you.
If within 30' Bandle flurries with shuriken
If not he will take a move and try to circle around the chamber to a point either directly opposite or directly blocking other egress from the chamber
Bandle eyes the "blood fountain" with the most serious look you've ever seen on his normally spritely features.
"You wound me, madam.", says Tallis as he assumes a combat stance
Suprise round crossbow attack: (1d20+7=8)
Confirm Fumble: (1d20+7=19)
In my haste to fire I kind of mess up and miss.
Hastily I reload and fire again.
Wounded, slightly, by LJ's attack, the gnoll growls a cursed word to her b$&$$ goddess and blows on a tuft of dark fur in her hand. The fur grows as it swirls about the room until almost the entire room is cloaked in darkness.
You see the gnoll move quickly through the dim light away from you.
My keen eyes follow the gnolless as I reload my crossbow.
Crossbow attack: (1d20+7=22)
Damage: (1d8=2)
My keen eyes follow the gnolless as I reload my crossbow.
Crossbow attack: (1d20+7=22)
Damage: (1d8=2)
The gnoll cleric darts to the opposite side of the room and then runs aroud and through the dim light, trying to catch you off-guard from one side. LJ's keen eyes prevent that from happening. She takes another bolt before she can reach you.
Bandle circles to the left as the darkness drops...he's seen these tricks before and grasps at his bandolier as his squints in the dimness.
Bandle circles to the left as the darkness drops...he's seen these tricks before and grasps at his bandolier as his squints in the dimness.
Bandle runs towards the gnoll priestess missing with his shurikens as he closes on her. She raises her sword, unaffected by the dim light, promising not to miss.
Tallis slowly reaches for a flask of acid...
and throws it at the oncoming gnoll.
The acid splashes the gnoll priestess.
The acid splashes the gnoll priestess.
The gnoll brings her falchion up and around through the darkness with a roar. Bandle proves to nimble for her and avoids it.
Tallis hangs back and drinks a potion.