Hook Horror Hunt (3rd level, RETIRED)

The Underdark... the companions did not arrive here by choice. Happenstance, misfortune, fate... whatever brought them to this world of darkness and endless danger, all they want now is to return to the surface world.

So far, they have managed to avoid the worst threats that come from wandering the myriad tunnels and caverns, but after days of travel an event befalls them that they will remember forever - if they live through it.

The tunnel before them is lit only by whatever sources of light the party bears. The first sign of trouble is a series of heavy *clacks* that echo across the stone, the direction of the reverberating punctuations impossible to discern.

Having traveled this far in the silence of the Underdark, the companions know that anything making this much noise must either be predator or prey.

A large red-haired man wields a flaming torch towards the front of the party as they move together.
"I hope we are not being hunted. It would not do for a Chieftainson of the Flametongue tribe to die in some dark hole."

Two large figures (Hook Horrors 1 and 2) burst suddenly from a side passage into the tunnel before the party. Each one is tall and covered in thick chitinous plates like armor. Beaks sharp enough to rip flesh from bone take up most of their faces, and each arm ends in a heavy claw - from which the clacking sounds come.

The two creatures shy away from the party's light with reptilian hisses. One raises its claws threateningly towards the companions, while the other cocks its head back towards the side passage, as though listening. From their posture, it does not seem as though they were expecting to find the party here.

Round 1 Player Phase!

Round 1 Summary

The large monsters move to defend themselves as the party closes in. One of the plated brutes swings an enormous claw at Corunir, but stumbles as Tip's whips crack against its face. With a screech it swings about and buffets the young ranger with a long limb, a nasty crunch sounding as it connects (Tip takes 11 damage).

The other hook horror doesn't even flinch as Stacy's rolling pin bounces off its chitin. It snatches the woman up in a claw and hurls her to the ground (Stacy takes 13 damage), but before it can do more damage Ziggy steps up to deliver a fiery smack to the creature's side that melts away the natural armor there to slag. The monster hisses and turns on the barbarian, but to its dismay finds Stacy wrapped around its leg in a mother-bear grip, holding it in place.

Corunir's light builds to a blinding glare as - thanks to Zanzur's spell - the paladin doubles in size. With him a suddenly standing head and shoulders taller than the hook horrors, they recoil against his presence and shrink away.

A chorus of strange, yipping laughter washes over both heroes and monsters as a handful of new figures lope out of the side passage the hook horrors came from. At first all that can be seen of their features are yellow eyes that are much too large, scattered amongst glimpses of ragged fur and the glint of iron weapons. Then the newcomers step crookedly into the party's light, revealing four gnolls. Their hyena features are painted with manic toothy grins, and they grip their spears with furry hands that tremble with the thrill of the hunt.

At this arrival, the two hook horrors attempt to flee. One brushes past the heroes, heedless of their attacks. The other, hampered by Stacy, nearly falls on its face, unable to rid itself of the stubborn woman.

One of the gnolls spits out a string of unintelligible, hiccuping yips, and the hunters move to attack.

Round 2 Player Phase!!