Linah strides purposefully toward the south-eastern door and Grall and Sajan move even more quickly, almost in lockstep, in front to screen her from danger.
Nuveril, Khalid and Sabeen stand with weapons readied.
The south-eastern door is pushed open with a chorus of yips. Three pugawampis cradle their bows in their left hands while in their right they share a hold on a single leash against which strains a brute, a shaggy tan hyena.
Yipping in some dismay that the group is ready for them they nevertheless drop the leash and reach for arrows. The hyena, slavour dripping from it mouth, bunches its muscles to spring.
The centre pug, very slightly taller than the others, gawks at Grall, points at Sajan and speaks.
Eat him great one!
Round 1
Initiative
Grall ;
Nuveril
Linah
Sabeen
Khalid
Sajan ;
?
SE pugs
hyena
Ordered Initiative
- SE Pugs
- Nuveril
- ?
- Sabeen
- Khalid
- Linah
- Grall
- Hyena
- Sajan
The centre pug speaks to Grall:
With no clear shot at Linah the pugs open up on Sajan.
miss
hit 1hp
hit 1hp
The centre pugs shot is true but bounces harmlessly off Sajan's magical protection. The other two shots however do penetrate hitting the giant in his legs.
Nuveril quivers at the sounds of battle being joined, but she can't see past the ranks of taller people between herself and the action. She clutches her hammer impatiently and waits for an opening.
OK my bad then. Hopefully the map clears things up and we will be consistent from here.
At the commotion outside, the door next to Nuveril swings open revealing a pugawampi standing on a foot high bench running around the inside wall of the room. It looks at Nuveril's hammer in shock and only a last minute stumble from Nuveril as the tiny creature's aura rushes over her saves it from a hammer to the breast.
It has the presence of mind though to hop sidewise back into the room (still on the bench) and shoot an arrow at the halfling but she swats it away easily with her madu.
Miss
Two more of the creatures stand at the back of the room next to an enormous oven and they also open fire at Nuveril. One is nowhere near but the other slices her arm drawing blood.
Miss
Hit 1 damage
The room itself is obviously a large kitchen, above the bench the walls are lined in shelves and cupboards and there is a large central table. The floor is a field of pottery shards, broken glass, discarded cutlery and other debris.
Sabeen takes a five foot step to (I, -3) and starts casting a complicated spell.
How about this? I'll leave you to work out the grey areas and your own feelings and motivations.
You've never been quite sure what he saw in you that day, the day you stood on the block, fresh bruises from the beating administered very precisely by your previous master's guards marking every part of your body but your face. They may well have gone on to break all the fingers on your right hand, as your master's daughter demanded, had that not been likely to reduce your sale price.
As it was, despite your talents, the only apparent bidders were a galley slave broker and a brothel owner, neither of which seemed like enticing futures. Was it simply pity or something else that made him buy you?
You started as a servant, then an apprentice and now finally a friend and while the old man was a demanding teacher almost from the first he treated you more as a surrogate son than a slave. He told you subsequently after a rare night of too much wine that the day he purchased your freedom was the happiest of his life.
While the father is not much one for praise, your progression in the alchemical sciences has been nothing short of amazing and while your teacher is not much one for your rapid development of the offensive aspect of your art he grudgingly accepts that it is a harsh world and you need to be able to protect yourself and others. [Lets say your defensive and healing extracts came from him and the offensive ones you developed yourself.]
You've known Almah and most of her household for years and are treated somewhat as a favored cousin (although even as a freed slave the gap between your respective social statuses is a chasm). You knew the old man was too proud to ask you straight out to come along on the expedition. You also knew that he advised Almah that the whole thing was too dangerous but she accepted the commission from the pactmasters against his advice.
You separated from the main group in order to pick up an assignment of potion and medical supplies in Katapesh. Unfortunately, a dust storm, a near encounter with a giant scorpion and a clash with bandits which killed both of your attendant mercenaries delayed reaching the claw and you arrived two days late.
Fortunately, you and the Father had developed a contingency plan and a note left under a distinctive pattern of rocks provided directions to the monastery. You've pushed your surviving camels hard to catch up. You finally find the caravan about half a mile south of the monastery and are given an enthusiastic reunion particularly from the Father who hugs you tightly. Almah is concerned about the black smoke rising from the monastery and tells you about the rest of group.
You are sent / volunteer to investigate although at the Father's insistence you are accompanied by one of the other mercenaries, a trim, pretty Garundi women named Elia. He also gives you three healing extracts which he has infused with his own life energy such that it can be consumed by others. This is one of the few things that you haven't yet mastered yourself.
You and Elia head quickly toward the monastery on foot. As you come in sight of it (80 feet), you see that the smoke has diminished but still wafts lazily above the chapel. You see the gap in the wall of the nave just in time to spot two small dog like creatures walking on two legs and carrying bows enter the monastery. Elia looks at you sidewise for orders.
Round 1, initiative 13
Concern washes over Linah's face as some of the pugwampi's arrows pierces Sajan's armor. She regains her composure as the giant doesn't seem greatly effected by the assult. The young clerics expression switches to determination as she engages their attackers with a sweeping cut with her scimitar.
Khalid the floor is difficult terrain so you can either make it half way end up in E3 and can have made your swipe against the front one (who is 5' further back as per post above) or make an acrobatics skill check to run along the bench and end up in G9. If you make it you'll threaten both if you fail you'll hit the floor.
If your just moving into the room please make a reflex save to avoid the debris.
Sajan will move to the closest foe and make a single, powerful blow against them. If he is instead able to flurry of blows, he will do so- seeking to break his foes with The Sentinels Fist. He will flank if possible, but prioritise flurrying over flanking.
Perception to look for other creatures
Knowledge (nature) to identify the small dog-like creatures
"It appears the monastery was not as empty as we had hoped, Elia. Come, let us follow closely and see what has happened."
Arjun draws his sling and moves toward the opening the creatures used to enter the monastery.
Round 1, initiative 13
Concern washes over Linah's face as some of the pugwampi's arrows pierces Sajan's armor. She regains her composure as the giant doesn't seem greatly effected by the assult. The young clerics expression switches to determination as she engages their attackers with a sweeping cut with her scimitar.
1d20+2
1d20+2
1d6+2
with Linah in Q9 and Sajan not gone yet, Grall looks at the situation with concern but yells back at the Pug in Gnoll,
Round 1 Action
Linahrrr, be carrreful
Charge to s -7 to protect her, go into rage and swing at either the hyena if still alive or the Pug.
Linah sidesteps gracefully between Grall and Sajan, darting in to gouge a bloody chunk of flesh from the hyena's side.
It screams in agony and its tiny masters commands forgotten, gathers to leap at Linah's throat. It is in mid-air, Linah backpedalling, when Grall hits it with his falchion, the momentum of his raged charge driving it clean back into the wall. It slides down on to the floor leaving a bloody trail and no longer capable of any sounds at all.
Without a clear flank, Sajan charges foward (to U,5) launching out with a front kick with enough power to pound the little archer into mush. Just as it is about to land he stumbles very slightly on what looks like a perfectly even stretch of floor and the kick passes over the pugawampis head by inches.
On the other side of the hallway, Sabeen continues her casting. Khalid skips adroitly past Nuveril and despite the pugawampis aura manages to hop onto and run along the bench. Although his end lunge misses he ends up crouched on the edge of the bench menacing both archers at the back of the kitchen with his scimitar.
Round 2
Ordered Initiative
- SE Pugs
- Nuveril
- N Pugs
- Sabeen
- Khalid
- Linah
- Grall
- Sajan
At the sight of their beloved hyena down, the pugawampis scream in incohate rage and fear.
The pugawampi adjacent to Grall (U,9) steps into the doorway and fires at Grall. However the tiny creature is so intimidated that it can barely aim its bow and the arrow misses by feet.
The centre pug (W,9) steps east down the hall and does likewise desperate to bring the giant gnoll down before he can get any closer. With the gnoll in full offense the arrow strikes home.
Hit 4 hp
The remaining pug seems a bit stunned from its near death experience with Sajan's foot but manages likewise to step east down the hall and shoot an arrow at Sajan but it is a clear miss.
miss
You identify the pugawampis and can assume your aware of their aura.
Elia just nods, rather than making any unecessary noise and readies a scimitar and shield.
Together you enter the nave. You spot the pugs even in the dim: they are moving slowly and stealthily but have no cover from you. They are just short of a column to the west of a hallway from which you can hear pugawampi screams and other sounds of combat.
Round 1, initiative 13
Pushing the image of the hyena leaping for her throat out of her mind Linah steps into the doorway to confront the pugwampi. "I will handle this one, catch the other two quick so we can help Khalid, Sabeen and Nuveril", Linah calls out to Grall and Sajan as delivers a swing aimed at the little creatures torso.
Arjun looks from the pugwampis to the hallway, considering which would be more prudent. He looks to Elia and points toward the hallway where the noise of battle emanates. He draws a small crystal vial from his belt and moves toward the sounds of combat.
Nuveril softly growls with excitement to find her own fight. After raising her madu to deflect the tiny arrow, she flings it down to the floor and takes a hop up onto the bench to approach the pug who opened the door.
Following the Pugwampi who narrowly evaded his strike, Sajan brings his brass knuckles crashing down atop the smaller creature's head, seeking to cave its skull in for a quick kill. However, he ends up tripping over his own feet...
Flurry Attack Rolls-
#1
#2
Unluck Rolls-
#1
#2
In an athletic display, Nuveril leaps straight up kicking off the wall next to the door, flipping and landing almost on top of her adversary on the bench. However her hammer is out of alignment and strikes only the bench sending pieces of wood flying.
Her pugawampi, now in full panic mode, tries to retreat further into the room giving Nuveril an attack at its back. With a mighty leap it manages to leap across to the next section of bench evading Nuveril's attack and fire a desperate shot back at the halfling but the miracle shot is too much and the pugawampi nearly drops its bow.
Acrobatics
AOO
The pugawampi furtherest from Khalid steps into the corner of the rapidly shrinking room, firing at him but missing.
The closer one rushes to join his comrade, also giving Khalid an attack. At the last second a pot falls down onto his head from the shelf above doing no damage but throwing off his strike. Safely at a distance for the moment he also fires at Khalid and misses.
Finally completing her spell, and clear of the pugawampis aura, Sabeen directs it at the two pugawampis at the end of the hall. Sajan's opponent simply blinks but the other drops to the ground bow spilling on to the floor.
SR check ranger pug
SR check normal pug
will save ranger pug
will save normal pug
Pots continue to fall on poor Khalid even as he steps down from the bench and corners the two pugawampis and he also missed his next strike.
On the other side of the battle, Linah has more luck, cooly spitting her opponent on her scimitar. It falls gurgling blood.
The two pugs look like they are going to take cover behind the pillar exposing their backs but after a second they continue toward the hallway.
Your about 30 feet away near the first line of pillars (more or less in line with the hallway running west to east if its not clear).
If your going to try and get any closer please give me a stealth check.
Stealth
Arjun motions to Elia and they creep closer toward the sounds of battle.
Yes. On the map you entered in the bottom gap on the west side of the nave. The pugs headed directly east toward the hallway (A13 although thats the last time I'll make map references :)). Stopped briefly at the second row of pillars and continued east, they are about 5 feet east of the pillars.
You are (or were before your most recent move) directly west of them about in line with the first row of pillars.
sneak elia
listen pugawampis
The pugs have stopped just past the pillar, high pitched screams are coming from the hallway and it looks they are uncertain about proceeding. They show no sign of spotting you.
Your now just outside their 20 foot aura.
Arjun holds up his hand to Elia and counts down from five, then makes a quick pointed gesture towards the two pugwampis. Moving forward until he is within 20 feet, he slaps the crystal vial into the palm of his other hand, shakes it vigorously, then throws it toward one of the pugwampis.
Pugwampi 1 is whichever one Arjun aims for and Pugwampi 2 is likely catching splash damage.
Attack vs AC 5
Damage fire damage to Pugwampi 1
Pugwampi 2 takes 5 fire damage, Reflex DC 15 for half damage.
With Linah seemingly out of harms way Grall moves to the next Pugwampi and charge if possible. Add 2 to each of these if I can charge.
You hear Grall growling and yelling at the pugs about something as he rushes them.
Your affected by the pug aura so I'll make another roll.
Heh.
reflex save .
The pugawampi you were aiming at is hit dead on and explodes into flame, it is unconscious before it registers its been hit. The other manages to partly dodge but is stil caught by the fire. Its screams are almost painful for your ears as it runs around in circles trying to put itself out.
Elia runs in to hit the thing with her scimitar.
Grall charges the last pugawampi in the hallway and it watches almost entranced as Grall's falchion cleaves through its shoulder cutting off most of its right arm and torso.
Sajan, out of enemies, and plenty of frustration to vent, turns to move back up the hallway toward his companions. Just as he does so you all hear, and he sees, a small explosion near the base of the pillar at B,3.
Two pugawampis which appear to have been trying to sneak up on the group are on fire. One is lying motionless at the base of the pillar. The other, screaming in an impossibly high tone, appears to be severely wounded and is running around in circles.
As Sajan watches, he spots a human woman run in and try to deal a finishing blow on the wounded pugawampi which misses. You recognise her as Elia, a trim and pretty Garundi woman, one of Almah's mercenaries.
Sajan charges up the hallway and into the nave with surprising speed for such a big man hammering the wounded pugawampi with his fists in a flank with the dark skinned mercenary and sending it spiralling into unconsciousness.
Elia throws him a brilliant smile and Sajan sees the bomb thrower: an unknown man of his own race.
Round 3
Ordered Initiative
- Nuveril
- N Pugs
- Sabeen
- Khalid
- Linah
- Grall
- Arjun
- Sajan
- Elia
The three pugs in the kitchen are still up and unwounded but are flailing desperately to keep away from Nuveril and Khalid. Their morale seems at breaking point.
Seeing the nervous pugs beginning to cower, Nuveril smiles and holds up her hammer. "You recognize this weapon? I took it from the crushed corpse of your king. Now his magic serves me! I am Nuveril King-Slayer! Look on your doom and despair!"
The three pugawampis throw down their weapons in unison, crying out in gnoll.
Take us as slaves! Take us as slaves! That is as close as gnoll gets to pleading for mercy.
We are out of combat.
Edit: Its OK I would have given you a circumstance bonus for the hammer on top of your +4 for being larger (you won't get that often :))but thats more than enough.
You have 3 pugawampi prisoners, 3 in various stages of dying and one slept.
Sajan pauses to look at Arjun, and then offers a traditional Vudrani greeting.
Blessings of Gruhastha upon you... traveller.
Grall falls to his knees in the hallway, panting.
Sarrrenrrrae, thank you forrr guiding us thrrrough this battle! he cries out.
It takes him about 30 seconds to catch his breath before he stands again. He barely notices the arrow shaft sticking out of his bicept. He walks over to the other room to see how the other party members are and sees the little rats cowering before them.
He walks over to one of them and cleanly slices off his head with his Falchion. He turns to the other two,
"Grall, no!", Linah calls out as the gnoll cuts the head of one of the remaining pugwampis. "They are our prisioners, they have surrendered!". She places her hand on Grall's arm to prevent another beheading
Nuveril looks at Linah curiously. "You would rather tie them all together with the baboons and unleash them for sport? Even when they do not raise weapons against us, their very existence warps the air around us." She shudders. "Do you not feel it?"
Linahrrr, these little verrrmin are beyond rrredemption. I will kill no otherrrs as you have asked, but I was wanting to make surrre they told us trrruthfully about what else lies within these sacrrred grrrounds...