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Huergar notes the paleness of Onyx's face and wonders whether the demonic laughter signals the enemy's awareness of their intrusion. He studies the rock of the tunnel more carefully and considers whether it would be possible to cause a cave-in.
"Let the enemy come to us. We can set an ambush outside the tunnel entrance, rather than fall into an ambush set for us inside."
Basils face sets like stone as the Dwarven Wizard describes the scene..."A demon..A Vrock..My task in this fight is obvious then"
Basils sword once more begins to shine with a celestial light..
He turns to Huergar...
"It is unlikely that they will advance upon us..why should they given their position...no we need to strike and strike surely while we are fresh..let us prepare our best efforts and meet the foe on as best a footing as we can"
Basil intones some fervent prayers to Tyr..
Cast Protection from Chaos and Bulls Strength on myself
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"It is unlikely that they will advance upon us..why should they given their position...no we need to strike and strike surely while we are fresh..let us prepare our best efforts and meet the foe on as best a footing as we can"
"I say our best footing is on their front doostep. If they delay advancing they give us more time to prepare an effective ambush. They may have no other way out of the cave, and if they do nothing, we could seal them in. Why should we advance, given our position?"
"Onyx, can you tell if they have another way out?"
"I had not thought the sons of Morradin to be so...cautious" the paladin comments
Eyes wide with mortal fear, Onyx answers Finrod.
"Evil in the flesh, that is what I see. It is a vrock, an odious demon from the Abyss, which delights in flying about and dealing out death from above. Guard your mind, for it can hear your every thought!"
"No! Let us not discuss our battle plans while we are in range of the demon's telepathy!"
The didactic dwarf begins a hasty retreat.
Onyx:
"No! Let us not discuss our battle plans while we are in range of the demon's telepathy!"
The didactic dwarf begins a hasty retreat.
Huergar notes the paleness of Onyx's face and wonders whether the demonic laughter signals the enemy's awareness of their intrusion. He studies the rock of the tunnel more carefully and considers whether it would be possible to cause a cave-in.
** spoiler omitted **
"Let the enemy come to us. We can set an ambush outside the tunnel entrance, rather than fall into an ambush set for us inside."
"First we fight undead, and now we fight demons? I have the strangest feeling my parents would be proud, and thats scary."
Finrod rasps, "I say we assault them and do it now, before they have time to set up a defense."
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"Finrod, are you mad? They would not wait for us to arrive before setting up their defenses. Even Basil admits they would rather not abandon their advantage by coming out of the cave to attack us. Why ask Onyx what he saw only to ignore what he says?"
"Onyx! If the demon can hear my thoughts, let him hear this: We will carve him like a chicken and send him screeching back to the Abyss! He's a chicken, and we will give him a chicken's reward! He's a stinking, worthless chicken that no one wants to eat!"
Huergar is hoping to provoke the demon into coming out to attack, so the party can hit it with ranged attacks as it comes through the tunnel.
With a last burning glance down the corridor, Finrod then begins to retreat out of the cave with the others. Without the advantage of surprise, that would be a bloody assault indeed.
As you all leave the cave, you hear laughter from the cave, and in each of your minds you hear something similar to this:
"Mortals, prostrate yourselves before a superior foe! I shall be waiting for your inevitable return!"
The feeling of being invaded by the demon is more than unpleasant to everyone.
Huergar:
Finrod turns to the others once safely outside.
"This does not sit right with me. Let us go invest in some holy water and return to bathe that thing in it."
Finrod will check for tracks around the cave.
Survival (Tracking): (1d20+9+4=23)
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"Basil, you may be right. They seem reluctant to come out and greet us."
Huergar scans the terrain looking for rocks to dislodge and roll across the cave entrance. Failing that he chops down some trees to bar the entrance. (His adamantine axe ignores the hardness of wood.) Unless someone tries to talk him out of it, he plans to seal the entrance so no one can get out without prolonged effort that would expose them to a barrage of attacks.
"We may as well find out if they are content to let us seal them in. If they try to stop us, we ambush them. If they have another way out, we let them reveal it. Perhaps we could even smoke them out with fire. The forest supplies us with plenty of trees. Onyx can use his magic to learn how they feel about their predicament and whether they are able to summon outside help. Let's play the cards we have."
Given the current situation, Kara seems excited. She flexes her hands around her weapons, and her eyes seem to turn silver when the light catches them.
"That demon was in our heads, I say we send it back to where it belongs!"
To his fellow dwarf, the mage replies, "yes Huergar, I have a spell that allows me to read minds, even that of demon. But I cannot be too far from the enemy, about twenty yards, and I cannot hide behind a thick passage wall."
Basil watches the others go... then follows a look of anger on his face...when they get to open air he lets his anger vent itself..
That was the most craven display I have seen in all my years of service to Tyr..."
He looks at Huergar as he moves to seal the cave.
"Do not even think of blocking the way...if necessary I will oppose those servants of evil alone as my oaths require me to"
Corvax clears his throat to interrupt the brewing argument.
"I agree with both Kara and Finrod, I say we re-enter the cave and banish that foul demon and slay its conspirators.
I could, with luck, dismiss it back to the pits before it has a chance even to attack. With their advantage considerably lessened the drow would be no great challenge."
He pauses and scratches at the golden stubble starting to show on his scalp.
"I would be doing a disservice to Tempus to turn away from a battle against such vile foes so I'll stand with Basil on this one. I go back into the cave regardless of the rest of you."
Sunaj shrugs, "Very well. Let us remove this obstacle before us."
"But be ready."
Finrod:
Onyx:
Sunaj:
"A gate to the nether realms probably stands beyond the vrock. I say we push on, lest the drow summon more of these monstrosities."
With that Sunaj joins those who wish to meet the vrock head on.
"Preparation can certainly win or lose a battle."
Finrod points out the two sets of tracks entering the cave (and one set leading out back the way we came) for those interested.
When the party finally comes to consensus, he rasps; "Then let's attack. Straight up the middle to the demon first and take it down. Leave the drow for later. Agreed?"
Finrod points out the two sets of tracks entering the cave (and one set leading out back the way we came) for those interested.
When the party finally comes to consensus, he rasps; "Then let's attack. Straight up the middle to the demon first and take it down. Leave the drow for later. Agreed?"
"I agree."
Onyx, as subdued and serious as ever, nods in agreement with Finrod.
Prep:
Finrod will cast Longstrider on himself, making his Move 40ft.
Round 1
At the signal--
Finrod will move after Sir Basil and Corvax; Making a single Move to (P,8) and making a single attack at the Vrock (T1).
Bow attack: (1d20+18=25)
Arrow damage: (1d8+5+1d6=13) (2 points electric)
Making sure I'm clear on what everyone's doing:
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To his fellow dwarf, the mage replies, "yes Huergar, I have a spell that allows me to read minds, even that of demon. But I cannot be too far from the enemy, about twenty yards, and I cannot hide behind a thick passage wall."
"Onyx, I was thinking of the scrying magic that you used earlier. You've gained firsthand knowledge of the demon, which is no small asset to one with your gifts. It's too bad it must go neglected this time, like our other advantages."
Basil watches the others go... then follows a look of anger on his face...when they get to open air he lets his anger vent itself..
That was the most craven display I have seen in all my years of service to Tyr..."
He looks at Huergar as he moves to seal the cave.
"Do not even think of blocking the way...if necessary I will oppose those servants of evil alone as my oaths require me to"
"Basil, no need to get angry just because someone else has a more rational plan. It's not my fault you were too afraid to run in and attack the demon all by yourself. I'm not trying to avoid these enemies, I'm trying to defeat them. You're out of line when you discredit the courage of those who have chosen to fight beside you. That, and you lack patience."
Huergar would look Basil in the eyes as a token of candor and good faith, but Basil hides his eyes behind a bandage.
"I would be doing a disservice to Tempus to turn away from a battle against such vile foes so I'll stand with Basil on this one. I go back into the cave regardless of the rest of you."
"Corvax, it's touching how you value teamwork and the support of your friends. No one was about to commit any disservice to Tempus, and no one is turning away from this battle."
Huergar takes a place alongside Sunaj at the outset, but he does not plan to attempt any acrobatics. He will help the group in whatever way he can help best, and he hopes to glean some inspiration from the craftiness of the half-orc.
Following Finrod as fast as she can, Kara can feel a cold excitement spreading through her body. She flicks her whip at the Vrock's leg.
Corvax strides into the cavern, eyes searching for and fixing on the demon.
Basil will cast the spells he was going to cast and move to the forefront of battle..he will engage the demon head on.
I reckon he's at O8 at the end of round one(again hes a clanky kind of guy and acrobatics is an almost guaranteed fail for him so he won't be doing anything flashy)
Basil's spells will have been active for 3 rounds and 2 rounds (3 rounds Bull's Strength, 2 rounds Protection from Chaos) at the point the battle commences.
Basil moves into position to challenge the Vrock, which suddenly becomes less than necessary as Corvax's dismissal is successuful. The vrock screams and curses as the fabric of reality tears around him and a sizzling, glowing, gauntleted hands pull him through the rift, as if he were nothing more than a rag doll. Finrod's bow attack hits Drow 2, rather than the Vrock, as Drow 2 tries to sneak up on the group. Kara strikes Drow 1 as he begins to close, doing some subdual damage. Sunaj follows Corvax, with Huergar and Onyx in tow.
The Drow begin their assault, with Drow 1 attacking Basil , while Drow 2 moves around the pillar, nearly to where Finrod is to try a two-pronged attack. The two drow in the back of the room begin the process of moving into defensive positions on the far sides of the rift.
Current Map: Here
Glimpsing the downfall of the vrock, Onyx hops and punches the air. "Huzzah, Corvax! Huzzah!"
Round 2
Full round attack vs. Drow 2
Rapid shot (add one attack, all attacks -2)
Deadly aim (-3 to hit for +6 damage)
Bow shots: (1d20+18-2-3=20, 1d20+18-2-3=23, 1d20+13-2-3=27) (Shot #3 is a critical threat)
Arrow damage: (1d8+5+6+1d6=23, 1d8+5+6+1d6=19, 1d8+5+6+1d6=21)
Shot #3 critical confirmation:
Critical confirm? (1d20+13-2-3=15)
Shot #3 damage becomes if critical confirmed--
Arrow critical hit: (2d8+10+12+1d6=40)
Then a five foot step to the east (P,9).
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Huergar is stunned by Corvax's dismissal of the demon. He never imagined that it was possible for such a foe to be overcome so easily. The relief he feels at the sight is hard to overstate.
At another level of awareness, his mind urges him to defer the emotional impact and focus on immediate dangers. He closes the distance between himself and the nearest drow and swings his axe.
Basil grins fiercly as Corvax sends the demon back to its place in the abyss...he hisses a pained gasp as the drow strikes then turns on him in righteous fury.
Attack 1
Attack 2
Damage 1
Damage 2
"Mages, take down those lizards" he calls as he strikes
From the rear of the group there is little Onyx can do directly against the remaining enemy. So he decides to sing his battle hymn again, to fortify the fighting-spirit of his already courageous comrades.
Kara lashes out at the mounted dark elf with her new blade, hoping to divide it's attention.
Basil:
Basil:
** spoiler omitted **
The combined teamwork of Onyx, Basil, Huergar, and Kara bring down drow 1 in mere moments, while Finrod's well placed shots strike deep into Drow 2's chest, dropping him before he even got the chance to attack.
You stand now, pretty well as you were, with the two riders guarding the two exits to the room. One yells something into the exit.
Those that speak undercommon:
Onyx tells the party what he heard the lizard-rider said:
"Surface ones! Trying to get to the portal, guard it with your lives, the demon is defeated!"
And then he resumes singing.
Finrod shouts to the others. "Do we attack left or right?"
"Fair enough."
Round 4
Finrod targets mounted Drow 2.
First range band, not point blank, Deadly aim.
Bow Shot #1:
Arrow damage #1:
Bow Shot #2:
(Critical threat)
Arrow damage #2:
Roll to confirm critical for triple damage
Finrod:
Basil takes up a defensive position to the left of the pillar..