Post by David on Nov 10, 2006 14:33:00 GMT -5
Both parties questioned the priest Amaryllis charmed, learning that there were few followers of Thanatos left on the island and that the majority of the potent cult members were now dead. They also learned more about the history of the cult and the cult's goal -- relocated the lost Shrine of Thanatos. Afterward, the White Witch transfered her charm to Chloe and then re-charmed the priest.
In the morning, Issac, Arthur, Sabuto, William, Amaryllis, and Ariadne returned to the catacombs of the island with the goal of capturing the gnolls' teleportal. The group reached the main cavern without incident and Sabuto charged the gnoll guarding the stair, but a single, lucky arrow shot took him out. The heroes found themselves exchanging arrow fire with four gnolls when another group surprised them from the flank. Amaryllis slept these, but MANY more came to support those on the stair. Meanwhile, Issac was getting gunned down by arrow fire.
William faerie fired several of the gnolls and was peppered with arrows for his troubles. Issac shot two, but more kept coming. Suddenly a web appeared, ensnaring Isaac and Amaryllis, but burst into flame when it touched the flame of the party's torches. Ouch! Another sleep from Amaryllis followed by a web from Arthur, just as the gnoll mages were visible, ended the fight and sealed the chamber. The heroes tended their wounds, regrouped and prepared to slaughter the remaining gnolls.
Unfortunately, this extra time also gave the gnolls not caught in the webs a chance to regroup, so once the webs caught fire (nearly killing most of the gnolls caught in them), two HUGE grizzly bears and a dozen gnoll bow men attacked, quickly support by nearly as many gnoll two-handed swordsmen!
Amaryllis' real dire wolf, Fido, and her conjured wild boar, Fluffy, were slaughtered by the bears immediately. The initial salvo of arrows seriously wounded Isaac and Sabuto so that when the warriors charged, they were both in serious trouble already. Amaryllis couldn't charm the gnolls quickly enough to keep herself from becoming engaged in melee. And once hand-to-hand combat began, despite having ruined many bows with his warp wood spell, William found himself fleeing for cover from the lethal missile fire. Arthur used magic missiles on one gnoll, but he had cast a shield and foiled the attack.
Soon, Isaac dropped, leaving only Sabuto and Amaryllis (and her charmed-gnoll-of-the-moment) in combat. About this point, the two badly-wounded gnoll mages unleashed both their volleys of magic missiles at Arthur. The assault would surely kill the Grecian half-elf, but everyone turned aside; it would seem his magic ring was a ring of shielding...! Meanwhile, unable to get free enough to charm the grizzlies, the White Witch fell. Sabuto was slaughtering gnolls left and right, but there were just too many and he was finally overwhelmed. Arthur killed one gnoll mage, but the other webbed him between the stalactites (he was flying at the time). Things looked QUITE bad.
Which was when Ariadne dumped a potion down Amaryllis' throat, grabbed a torch and tossed it at Arthur, frying the webs, burning the mage, and freeing him. The priestess of Hades then ran for the exit, hoping her invisibility would keep her safe. Unfortunately one gnoll sensed her, took a lucky shot, and nailed her. Soon, six gnolls and one of the bears were charging (roughly) after her.
But this distraction gave Amaryllis a moment to recover and Arthur time to react. After surviving yet another lethal volley of arrows (nice ring, Arthur!), the mage webbed the columned passage again, trapping nearly every gnoll not already chasing Ariadne. The two left charged at Amaryllis along with the bear, but she managed to charm one to defender her, buying some time. Arthur then used a scroll to sleep the others (some still blind from William's sundazzle) charging in.
Meanwhile, Ariadne reached the stairs and ran up them, two gnolls still on her tail, but with the bear charging back into the melee. Another exchange, another charmed gnoll, and while she was running out of spells (and potential gnoll allies!), Amaryllis avoided the bears again. Just then, however, finally clear of foes for the moment, she charmed one of the bears while Arthur used a second scroll to magic missile a rogue gnoll menacing her.
That's when the nightmare appeared and charged to Ariadne's rescue. Another charm from the White Witch took control of the last bear and suddenly the remaining gnolls on this party's side of the web were all dead.
Using healing salves and medical skill, Amaryllis saved Sabuto and William (although she ignored Isaac, who Ariadne saved). Using the majority of the group's remaining healing spells, William and Ariadne got everyone back on their feet and ready to fight. They could hear the remaining gnolls still stuck in Arthur's web spell. A handful more gnolls had come to support them, but the mage had fled back "to get help from the minotaur king".
At the moment, the heroes have two MASSIVE charmed grizzly bears and a nightmare at their disposal. While the fighters are wounded, they do have the gnolls more-or-less on the ropes. Next move? End of the melee?
How about we find out Wednesday, Nov 15th due to scheduling conflicts?
In the morning, Issac, Arthur, Sabuto, William, Amaryllis, and Ariadne returned to the catacombs of the island with the goal of capturing the gnolls' teleportal. The group reached the main cavern without incident and Sabuto charged the gnoll guarding the stair, but a single, lucky arrow shot took him out. The heroes found themselves exchanging arrow fire with four gnolls when another group surprised them from the flank. Amaryllis slept these, but MANY more came to support those on the stair. Meanwhile, Issac was getting gunned down by arrow fire.
William faerie fired several of the gnolls and was peppered with arrows for his troubles. Issac shot two, but more kept coming. Suddenly a web appeared, ensnaring Isaac and Amaryllis, but burst into flame when it touched the flame of the party's torches. Ouch! Another sleep from Amaryllis followed by a web from Arthur, just as the gnoll mages were visible, ended the fight and sealed the chamber. The heroes tended their wounds, regrouped and prepared to slaughter the remaining gnolls.
Unfortunately, this extra time also gave the gnolls not caught in the webs a chance to regroup, so once the webs caught fire (nearly killing most of the gnolls caught in them), two HUGE grizzly bears and a dozen gnoll bow men attacked, quickly support by nearly as many gnoll two-handed swordsmen!
Amaryllis' real dire wolf, Fido, and her conjured wild boar, Fluffy, were slaughtered by the bears immediately. The initial salvo of arrows seriously wounded Isaac and Sabuto so that when the warriors charged, they were both in serious trouble already. Amaryllis couldn't charm the gnolls quickly enough to keep herself from becoming engaged in melee. And once hand-to-hand combat began, despite having ruined many bows with his warp wood spell, William found himself fleeing for cover from the lethal missile fire. Arthur used magic missiles on one gnoll, but he had cast a shield and foiled the attack.
Soon, Isaac dropped, leaving only Sabuto and Amaryllis (and her charmed-gnoll-of-the-moment) in combat. About this point, the two badly-wounded gnoll mages unleashed both their volleys of magic missiles at Arthur. The assault would surely kill the Grecian half-elf, but everyone turned aside; it would seem his magic ring was a ring of shielding...! Meanwhile, unable to get free enough to charm the grizzlies, the White Witch fell. Sabuto was slaughtering gnolls left and right, but there were just too many and he was finally overwhelmed. Arthur killed one gnoll mage, but the other webbed him between the stalactites (he was flying at the time). Things looked QUITE bad.
Which was when Ariadne dumped a potion down Amaryllis' throat, grabbed a torch and tossed it at Arthur, frying the webs, burning the mage, and freeing him. The priestess of Hades then ran for the exit, hoping her invisibility would keep her safe. Unfortunately one gnoll sensed her, took a lucky shot, and nailed her. Soon, six gnolls and one of the bears were charging (roughly) after her.
But this distraction gave Amaryllis a moment to recover and Arthur time to react. After surviving yet another lethal volley of arrows (nice ring, Arthur!), the mage webbed the columned passage again, trapping nearly every gnoll not already chasing Ariadne. The two left charged at Amaryllis along with the bear, but she managed to charm one to defender her, buying some time. Arthur then used a scroll to sleep the others (some still blind from William's sundazzle) charging in.
Meanwhile, Ariadne reached the stairs and ran up them, two gnolls still on her tail, but with the bear charging back into the melee. Another exchange, another charmed gnoll, and while she was running out of spells (and potential gnoll allies!), Amaryllis avoided the bears again. Just then, however, finally clear of foes for the moment, she charmed one of the bears while Arthur used a second scroll to magic missile a rogue gnoll menacing her.
That's when the nightmare appeared and charged to Ariadne's rescue. Another charm from the White Witch took control of the last bear and suddenly the remaining gnolls on this party's side of the web were all dead.
Using healing salves and medical skill, Amaryllis saved Sabuto and William (although she ignored Isaac, who Ariadne saved). Using the majority of the group's remaining healing spells, William and Ariadne got everyone back on their feet and ready to fight. They could hear the remaining gnolls still stuck in Arthur's web spell. A handful more gnolls had come to support them, but the mage had fled back "to get help from the minotaur king".
At the moment, the heroes have two MASSIVE charmed grizzly bears and a nightmare at their disposal. While the fighters are wounded, they do have the gnolls more-or-less on the ropes. Next move? End of the melee?
How about we find out Wednesday, Nov 15th due to scheduling conflicts?