"Now we can retreat," Ciaran calls. "I can cover our escape. You, too, Aeron, we need your healing. We will not leave until you go." Ciaran heads back towards the room. Noting the blocked hallway, he waves his hand and the Web dissolves.
The web disappears, revealing the corridor beyond...and the two armored guards that appear to have been poking at the wall of webs with their blades. The door to the north of them stands open; apparently that is where they came from. Their eyes suddenly bug out as they see Jinx and Ciaran.
Hearing the words of his companions, Aeron nods stoically and swings at his foe. This time, his mace is deflected by the gnoll's wooden shield. The cleric then moves back to give the others some room. Although his retreat provokes an attack by each of the two gnolls nearby, once again he escapes unscathed.
Zirat hopes Aeron will move back so he could line a defensive wall and smack some heads. He is disappointed as the cleric rushes past him.
Deren has a feeling that while he wants to help out his friends, that it's a better idea to stay hidden at the moment. Besides, there's a door to the north leading into a room which may have a secret door to another place, allowing them to all be ambushed and annihilated. Perhaps it is better if he watches that room, he thinks to himself.
The others hear Shoon utter a few rather uncharacteristic words as he fumbles his Sai. He retreats and slams his fist into the wall with frustration. Deciding that it is high time they got out of there Shoon turns back to the room with the four unconscious enemies. "Deren! Where are you? Take a potion from my pack and awaken Sir Merrick. Zirat, we need to take a prisoner or all of this will have been for naught.
Jinx, who had been about to yell for Ciaran to dismiss the webs, grunts with surprised satisfaction. "Good enough, eh? Come, Bauble, come, ye mangy beast!" Jinx holds open the cat's wicker riding basket flap and, once the fluffy white familiar is secure, sets about hauling Sir Merrick out of the open door down the western hallway in a hope for escape. The gnome nervously casts looks over his shoulder, hoping to see the others following after him.
The gnolls pursue, but are met by the champion as they round the corner. Zirat's first slashes glances off the gnoll's armor, and it returns the attack with its slashing axe. Zirat's plate absorbs the blow, and the two foes stand off against one another.
Another gnoll rushes past its companion, but Zirat's chain is waiting, and slashes a ragged wound down the creature's chest. It lets out at growl of pain, and slashes its own weapon at the man. Again, the axe deflects off the heavy armor, and Zirat can only be thankful for giving up his old armor.
As the rest of the troops surge forward behind the gnolls, the human commander can be heard shouting. "You there, Nothard! Run to Commader Darik...they are fleeing. Have him take his troops around and cut them off!"
CB, would you like to change Jinx' action with the appearance of the guards to the west?
Initiative Count
20 Ciaran - move, dismiss web
20 Aeron - attack vrs D 11 (failure)
20 Zirat - ready attack action
19 Deren - remains hiding
15 human 6 - [SURPRISED]
15 human 7 - [SURPRISED]
13 Merrick - [UNCONSCIOUS]
13 Shoon - move
12 Jinx - ?
9 Zirat - attack vrs gnoll b 13 (failure); AoO vrs gnoll d 23 (success), damage 10
9 gnoll b - AoO vrs Aeron 14 (failure), move; attack vrs Zirat 18 (failure)
9 gnoll c - [BLIND]
9 gnoll d - AoO vrs Aeron 9 (failure), move; attack vrs Zirat 16 (failure)
9 gnoll e - [BLIND]
8 human 5 - move
8 bugbear - move
4 human 1 - [BLIND]
4 human 2 - [BLIND]
4 human 3 - moves
4 human 4 - [BLIND]
PC Status
Merrick -7/22; unconscious, stable
Shoon 13/18
Zirat 27/31
Jinx 15/15; mage armor (approx 54 mins left) for AC17
[sblock=Opponent Status - Players Do Not Look]
Guard 1 -4/38, stabilized
Guard 2 -3/27, stabilized
Guard 3 -7/27, stabilized
Guard 4 -3/27, stabilized
Guard 5 -9/8
O1 DEAD
Gnoll a -8/11
gnoll b 6/11
gnoll c 11/11, blinded 2 rounds
gnoll d 1/11
gnoll e 11/11, blinded 2 rounds
human 5 29/29
bugbear 16/16
human 1 8/8, blinded 2 rounds
human 2 8/8, blinded 2 rounds
human 3 8/8
human 4 8/8, blinded 2 rounds
[/sblock]