Jun 14, 2022 12:45 am
OOC:
Leave Luban to scout, have Mal, Man-at-arms, Gilly, and probably Ora or Spuignor to carry.Part 9: Plundering the Plunderers' Plunder
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Jun 14, 2022 4:09 pm
Gilly and Ora each grab hold of one of Thurig's legs, while Mal and the Man-at-Arms lift under the armpits and start carrying the dwarf out of the pool room. Eltrezar and Spugnoir bring up the rear as Luban scouts ahead.
@cowleyc: How far ahead is Luban scouting? Is he staying relatively close to those that are carrying Thurig's body, or is he moving further on ahead?
OOC:
Thurig's encumbrance is 749. I'm going to rule that those carrying Thurig (Mal, Man-at-Arms, Gilly, and Ora) each carry a quarter of that encumbrance (about 188 coins each). That brings Gilly's MR to 90' and Maloria's MR to 30'. Ora's MR is still 120'. But basically the carrying group's MR is 30', because that's the lowest.@cowleyc: How far ahead is Luban scouting? Is he staying relatively close to those that are carrying Thurig's body, or is he moving further on ahead?
Jun 14, 2022 4:15 pm
OOC:
Luban is staying close, often peeking around the next corner but waiting for the group to catch up.Jun 14, 2022 5:33 pm
Luban moves a bit further ahead and quietly begins ascending the flight of steps leading out of the crayfish's pool room. His companions wrestle with Thurig's unconscious form as best they can a short distance behind the half-orc. His hopes for a quick peek inside the earthen tunnel south of the crypts and then a dash for the sun somewhere above are crushed, though, when the thief reaches the top of the stone stairs and finds standing about 30' ahead of him four wiry Gnolls, standing around with their arms folded and leading on the stone wall as if they'd been expecting the party for some time and had gotten bored. One of the gnolls is holding a necklace made of a single piece of fiber cordage running through a large pendant that appears to be a piece of bone. The necklace's owner is speaking quietly and reverently to another gnoll who seems agitated or annoyed with the conversation.
As Luban comes to a stop at the top of the stairs and eyes the gnolls warily, they all stand upright and draw their weapons: well-maintained battleaxes, most likely taken from the now missing armory. The one in the front of the pack, a mean looking female, turns to the other three standing behind her and speaks in a barking gnoll tongue Luban fails to understand. One of the gnolls begins cackling hysterically at whatever the one in front said, while the other two, who were previously engaged in the exchange regarding the bone necklace, both snarl in agitation. The female gnoll turns back to Luban and barks some sort of greeting, or perhaps "challenge" would be a more suitable word, judging by the gnoll's tone.
As Luban comes to a stop at the top of the stairs and eyes the gnolls warily, they all stand upright and draw their weapons: well-maintained battleaxes, most likely taken from the now missing armory. The one in the front of the pack, a mean looking female, turns to the other three standing behind her and speaks in a barking gnoll tongue Luban fails to understand. One of the gnolls begins cackling hysterically at whatever the one in front said, while the other two, who were previously engaged in the exchange regarding the bone necklace, both snarl in agitation. The female gnoll turns back to Luban and barks some sort of greeting, or perhaps "challenge" would be a more suitable word, judging by the gnoll's tone.
OOC:
The rest of the group is at the bottom of the steps and can hear the transaction taking place, though cannot see what is happening above, with the exception of Luban's body language changing almost imperceptibly and the fact that he appears to be looking at something bout of sight.
Rolls
Secret Roll
Secret Roll
Secret Roll
Jun 14, 2022 7:09 pm
Luban freezes in place at the challenge before turning back to the stairs and whispering loudly to his companions. "Uh, there's some dog-looking folks up here, and I think they want a password. Wizard, didn't you deal with them before?!"
Jun 14, 2022 7:16 pm
Hrmph! "Indeed I did, indeed I did. Give me just a moment." Eltrezar squeezes past his companions before making his way up to where Luban stands, lantern in hand. He sets down the lantern and makes the crossed arms to the gnolls. [in ogre]: Ahem! "I see you are on patrol! Other gnolls left days ago, headed AWAY from three-trees. Made me tell you to meet them." Eltrezar gives a brief and simple set of directions to the cave that was oddly cold once.
Jun 15, 2022 12:50 am
Gently, Gilly sets down her portion of the dwarf, directing the others to do the same.
Then, pulling her cloak about her, she sneaks up the steps; as quietly as she can. She readies her bow, just below the rim of the staircase. If the time comes, she’ll be ready to let loose an arrow out of the darkness.
Then, pulling her cloak about her, she sneaks up the steps; as quietly as she can. She readies her bow, just below the rim of the staircase. If the time comes, she’ll be ready to let loose an arrow out of the darkness.
Last edited June 15, 2022 12:50 am
Jun 15, 2022 12:52 am
"I fear we’ll need the light of my staff for this. Curse my using it in the water. You can all see in the dark, can’t you?" she whispers to Mal.
She tuts, kicking herself that there now may be a melee in the darkness. She draws her sword, and puts a tentative foot on the steps, but just listens for now, and doesn’t ascend.
She tuts, kicking herself that there now may be a melee in the darkness. She draws her sword, and puts a tentative foot on the steps, but just listens for now, and doesn’t ascend.
Last edited June 15, 2022 12:53 am
Jun 15, 2022 2:49 am
OOC:
For the record, I have Eltrezar and Spugnoir carrying lanterns and torches right now.Jun 16, 2022 10:39 am
OOC:
Absolutely. We do have some light for if our charismatic magic user fails to convince these gnolls!Jun 17, 2022 1:07 am
"Disgusting old man..." the female in front says, opting to ignore Eltrezar's gesture. "You say Mudclaw speak at you day last? Who you are that Mudclaw say words to ugly dogwalker like you? What mudclaw say with no words said wrong?"
Jun 17, 2022 1:17 am
Hrmph! "Mudclaw said he was tired of dog-walkers ordering him. Bugbears and dog-walkers. He say no more Lareth! Said to tell Rattlethorn finding Mudclaw at cave, not at three-trees. Lareth has many dog-walkers at three-trees."
Jun 17, 2022 2:22 am
The female gnoll leading the other three snarls in agitation. "Why Lareth have his dog-walkers at Three-Trees now?!? Always with the pushing gnolls. First with Bugbears coming and running jobs and setting watches and giving gnolls all patrol shifts and less foods. Now sending dog-walkers to check gnoll leave-markings?!? Rattlethorn being sick of this. Rattlethorn sick of dog-walkers and bugbears in all entire. We go find Mudclaw at cave you say of. Then we go check Three-Trees by selves and have feast of any dog-walkers we catch sniffing around there."
The gnoll turns and barks a command and the gnolls turn to leave when the Trading Post Man-at-Arms steps forward, and begins snarling something at them in a language that Elrezar doesn't speak.
The gnoll turns and barks a command and the gnolls turn to leave when the Trading Post Man-at-Arms steps forward, and begins snarling something at them in a language that Elrezar doesn't speak.
OOC:
Are there any that speak Chaotic Alignment?Rolls
Secret Roll
Jun 17, 2022 1:44 pm
OOC:
I foolishly didn’t list Ora’s extra languages. No matter, our trusty thief has it covered!Jun 17, 2022 3:25 pm
Ora steps up a few more of the stairs, while the growling continues. She speaks to the wizard from the blackness just below.
"Perhaps you might ask them if there’s anything more for us down here, or are we wasting our time shuffling about in the dar…"
She’s stopped up short by the sudden growling from the mute-man!
"Perhaps you might ask them if there’s anything more for us down here, or are we wasting our time shuffling about in the dar…"
She’s stopped up short by the sudden growling from the mute-man!
Jun 17, 2022 5:10 pm
KCC says:
OOC:
I foolishly didn’t list Ora’s extra languages. No matter, our trusty thief has it covered!OOC:
For now we can say that the Man-at-Arms walked up ahead of the rest of the group, to stand next to Luban, and Ora and the others standing at the bottom of the stairs can just hear the Man-at-Arms's muttering but nothing clear.If you get a chance, let me know what languages you'd like to give Ora. I should probably make sure I have that written down as well for all the PCs, actually.
"You idiots," barks the Man-at-Arms in a deep baritone. "It's because of your own stupidity that you gnolls have been getting the short end of the stick of late. Because you let interlopers such as these give your boss nothing but headaches for the bulk of the last ten-day. They have convinced your lackey called Mudclaw to abandon his post with those he was standing watch with. It's because you that Lareth lost that shit-encrusted pet you were charged with feeding. It's only because of the the gross incompetence of these lot that Lareth didn't lose his entire armory you were chargesd with safeguarding after his ogre was killed. And for that Lareth will deliver the deserter Mudclaw a well-deserved flaying.
"Kill these now and finally you'll ensure that the bugbears spend the next ten-day wandering the halls of this place babysitting the armory stores and wandering about these walls on perpetual watch, while you enjoy Lareth's favor once again. Abandon your posts and my employers will see to it that you'll all join Mudclaw on his day of the Beautiful One's judgement, and no doubt the bugbears will be generously rewarded with your meat."
Though Eltrezar can't understand what's being said, he sees the Man-at-Arms point over his shoulder and gesture at him. "Beware, for they have two spellcasters among their ranks this time. The old one is half dead already and his only magic has been spent. He's utterly useless with his daggers and should be of no concern to you until the others have been dispatched of. The younger wizard claims to have a sleeping spell at hand, so you better take care of him first.
"I will be speaking with my employers, and your engagement with these intruders will be noted. Pray that you manage to get this situation handled better than your lackey did, and you may be enjoying Lareth's favor by this time tomorrow evening. Fail, and I have no doubt that I will be dealing almost exclusively with the bugbears' own brand of incompetence from here forward."
With that, the Man-at-Arms gives Eltrezar and Luban one last scornful grin, and begins walking slowly back up the west corridor, drawing his bow and a couple of aarows as he walks past the party and heads for the crypts. The gnolls all look to their leader Rattlethorn for direction, who gives the Man-at-Arms a distainful look and then barks something in gnoll. The rest ready their battleaxes for a battle.
OOC:
Round 1 begins! Turn order is as follows:1. Party
2. Man-at-Arms
3. Gnolls
I would say that the gnolls and the man body of the party (those carrying Thurig) are not in sight of one another yet, since those with Thurig are still at the bottom of the stairs. In order to see one another, either a party member has to reach the top of the stairs, or the gnolls have to move to the top of the stairs and look down.
Gnolls' view from top of stairs obscuring the party with Thurig (not picturing Eltrezar or Luban):
Rolls
Secret Roll
Party Initiative roll - (1d20+2)
(8) + 2 = 10
Gnolls Initiative roll - (1d6)
(2) = 2
Man-at-Arms Initiative roll - (1d6)
(6) = 6
Jun 18, 2022 1:15 am
OOC:
I had moved Gilly up to behind/below Eltrezar for this very occurrence. To shoot out of the dark if things go wrong! If you’ll allow that!Jun 18, 2022 2:47 am
Hrgh! "Get back down the stairs! That son-of-a-troll has betrayed us!" Eltrezar draws a single dagger, but is too far to fling at the Gnolls. He backs up as far as he can.
Jun 18, 2022 5:17 am
KCC says:
OOC:
I had moved Gilly up to behind/below Eltrezar for this very occurrence. To shoot out of the dark if things go wrong! If you’ll allow that!OOC:
Sure, I’ll allow that.load next