Dire Straits -- Help needed!!!!

[Fundin Strongarm]

The party I'm adventuring with is in very dire straits and I'd welcome any suggestions on how to escape our situation.
We're in the Temple of Elemental Evil (please don't post any spoilers!!!!!!) on the first level. We have just fought off a group of ghouls and ghasts that has left the party (fighter, cleric, ranger) paralyzed except for me (a 3/1 wizard/rogue halfling). The party is paralyzed for another 20 rounds. I've used my entire spell arsenal except for prestidigitation. (I have scrolls of chill touch, pyrotechnics, alarm, feather fall, knock, protection from arrows, 2 potions of cure light wounds and also my spell book -- though I don't really want to cast out of it.) I also have a rat familiar.
We are barracaded in a room where one door is locked with a hold portal spell on it and 2 ogres and some gnolls have arrived and are beginning to bash in the door. There is another door (also locked) but nothing (hopefully) is beyond it (we've cleared the hallway of gnolls, ghasts and ghouls).

Anyways, things look pretty bleak. It seems my options are to surrender/beg or pretend to be paralyzed and hope the ogres don't just crush us. Any suggestions?
We're playing 3.0 if that makes a difference.

 

[Liolel]

As far as I see it you can survive, by heading into the empty corridor and hiding with your rouge skills. But that leaves the rest of the party at the enemy's mercy. If they just capture them then you can attempt a rescue latter through stealth. But its probably your best option. Having one member free to try to rescue the others or recruit help is better then none. Still your party will hate you for it.

 

[Kugar]

Start slipping coins under the door slowly, but fast enough to keep both ogres buisy. Try to stall for the 20 rounds. If the Ogres do break through, use prest. on the now full coin pouch and accuse one of the Ogres of strealing it from the first. The fight should then give you enough time for the PCs to unparalize.

Cast Prot Arrows and convince the Ogres you are a high mage because the Gnolls' arrows cannot hurt you.

Tell the Ogres you came there to apply for a job?

 

[buzzard]

What's in the room? Any object which can be used to reenforce the door? That probably won't work, but it might be worth trying.

Does anybody in the party have any alchemist fire?

If so you can try to simulate the rooms being ablaze (which would also be helped by having stuff to burn in the room. Hit the door with an alchemist fire, and do a pyrotechnics smoke cloud that will billow from under the door into the hallway with the critters. Thus, the door will feel hot, and the smoke should convince them it's an inferno.

Of course the run like a sissy girl and hide option is also pretty smart.

buzzard

 

[dulsin]

Talk to them.

Your only hope is to stall and Ogres are pretty dim bulbs.
1) Demand that they give you the password.
2) Claim that you are a servant of the great and powerful OZ and he will be very displeased if you disturb his rest.
3) Offer to buy their food.
4) Ask where the nearest slave market is located.
5) Tell them a story.
6) Send them on a quest. golden fleece, gold apple that sort of thing
7) Challenge them to a duel. (if they accept begin to negotiate the particulars of the duel. Weapons, location, do they have a second, who is their next of kin? ect.

Remember 20 rounds is only 120 seconds. If you can get them to talk that much time will slip past fast. Otherwise slip out the other door and go back to town for another group of adventurers while they are busy eating your friends.

 

[A'koss]

You're really in quite a pickle aren't you...

... but these are situations I love most - now you gotta think.

Tell me you have decent ranks in Bluff! Hiding probably isn't your best option because Ogres can spot and listen fairly well and you're only 3rd level.

My first thought is to pretend to be a ghoul yourself. Use Prestigitation to grubby & stink up your garb, keep the lights low, smear some blood around your mouth and face, pile the paralyzed bodies together in a corner and pretend to be eating your group along with your rat familiar. You could also use chill touch which creates a visible necromantic glow around your hands for added effect to "warn off" the ogres if they approach.

With a little luck the Ogres will leave the party to their "prey".

Failing that, remember that you still have Pyrotechnics which can create a smoke cloud to help you make your getaway. You can always come back to rescue them at another time.

Cheers and good luck!

 

[Fundin Strongarm]

Great suggestions so far. Please keep them coming.

 

[maddman75]

Talking and stalling are pretty much your best bet. Ogres aren't too bright, and if you can get them chatting for 2 minutes your gang is back in business. If you have any names of any NPC leader-types, try tossing one out. Even if they don't believe that you work for XXX, it might get them confused enough to let the paralyzation wear off.

 

[Lichemaster]

Fundin, just give up and die you can not beat the temple!
2 of the other players have been on it 3 times in the past 16 years and they failed and it looks like you guys will too.
Just make new characters and move on my first TPK in along time!!!]

Long live Orcus!!

 

[Terraism]

Fundin, just give up and die you can not beat the temple!
2 of the other players have been on it 3 times in the past 16 years and they failed and it looks like you guys will too.
Just make new characters and move on my first TPK in along time!!!]

Long live Orcus!!

If that was your DM, I have a sinking feeling that, no matter how clever a plan you come up with, you're not making it out alive.