Endur's Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

[Endur]

Gnaw replies, "What am I? I am 'returned.' I was sent to the Underworld when I died, and I was returned here to guard this place for the Master.
"The Master's name is Master.
"My hunger grows."


One of Gnaw's minions passes by Gnaw in the archway, leaving the torture chamber, and half walks and half crawls towards the Gnoll bodies.

Craven's feelings of illness leave him. As if his determination has overcome any momentary weakness he suffered (DC 15 fort save 10+6=16).


In the other room, Raner hears the noise of footsteps approaching the door behind which they are having their whispered conversation. Raner barely has time to warn the others before the door explodes open. (Cultist listen check 20+4=24 vs. conversation move silently check of 2+(+7 for rogues, - number for dwarf)= not enough.) (Raner 12, Kerwyn 4, Toriah 1+5=6 for their listen checks).

A Nine Foot Tall Ogre just opened the door. Raner remembers the many tales he has heard about how to slay Ogres, but this is the first see-through Ogre he has ever heard about. This Ogre is already dead, slain by some other dwarf before him, and is little more than an Ogre Skeleton animated by necromancy. Looking between the Ogre bones, the party can see other Skeletons being commanded forward by a cultist with an insane expression on her face.



Round 1 Initiative
18: Lylamwyn -- casts Enlarge on Craven
18: Chat -- Chat stabs the ghoul going to get the food in the back. Calling to Craven, Chat says"I'll handle this one. You hold the archway." The rapier went right though the ghouls heart (17+7=24, 5 points of damage), the ghoul is still moving though.
15: 6 Human Skeletons -- blocked by Ogre Skeleton in the doorway
14: Ogre Seketon tries to claw Kerwyn and Raner behind the door, but Raner's quick warning prevents them from being taken by surprise (claw against Kerwyn 5+6=11, miss, and Raner 11+6=17, miss)
14: Belaver planning to cast CLW on the first person injured, hears sounds of battle in the other room (listen check 7+3=10), and moves to a position where he has a view of both combats.
13: Toriah -- attempts to tumble away from Skeleton Ogre's reach (1+7=8 failure), but is unable to dodge a terrible claw (14 +6=20, 6+5=11 damage). Toriah tries to shoot his crossbow at the cultist but misses (9+3=12).
13: Gnaw -- backs up into the torture chamber and pushes his remaining two ghoul lackeys in front of him to hold the archway.
12: 2 ghouls waiting in the archway. The ghoul that was stabbed by Chat turns and claws him, barely wounding him, but Chat seems to slow down immediately, almost as if the creature drained the life out of Chat (claw 1 miss, claw 17 hit for 1 damage, bite 14+2=16 miss; fort save 8+2=10. Chat is paralyzed).
12: Kerwyn -- tumbles out of Ogre reach(10+5=15 success), readies crossbow to shoot Cultist if she casts a spell.
11: Spugnoir draws a wand and casts a defensive spell on himself. Spugnoir mentions to Lylamwyn, "Nice way to give Craven some extra authority. I don't suppose you brought a spellbook with you into this dungeon?"
10: Cultist and 2 Gnolls --Cultist points at a skeleton, Kerwyn tries to shoot the cultist and misses (6+3-cover). Kerwyn notices no obvious effect from whatever the cultist did, maybe his shot distracted her. Gnolls just laugh and bark.
5: Lenya-- A blast of green flame leaves Lenya hand and blasts the ghoul clawing Chat, dropping the ghoul on the ground (8+4=12, hit for 7 damage)
4: Craven--charges forward and swings his warhammer at Gnaw (using his magically enhanced reach to swing over the heads of Gnaw's guards), missing narrowly (4+4+2=10 miss). The two ghouls protecting Gnaw attempt to bite Craven (7+2=9 miss) and (12+2=14 hit for 2 points of damage, dc12 fort save 20+6 = 26 saved vs. paralysis, dc12 fort save 3+6 = 9 failed save against ghoul fever).
2: Raner--Swings his axe at the Skeletal Ogre, smashing the left knee (18+5=23 hit, dam 10+4-5=9).

 

[Dalamar]

Kerwyn tumbles away from the towering skeleton. If he can position himself so that he still has line of sight of the cultist, he moves so and readies to shoot a bolt through her if she casts a spell. Otherwise tumble out of the room (and get shocked by seeing ghouls).
"By Boccob's Backscratcher of Power, that thing is huge!"

 

[Thanee]

Lenya

Lenya spins around and blasts the ghoul near Chat with her greenish fire.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Craven takes his warhammer and smashes into Gnaw, howling as he does so.*

 

[Xael]

Round 2 Action

"Of course I did. I wouldn't be any use for long if I didn't.", Lylamwyn answers at Spugnoir, as he moves away from the enemy again while drawing his crossbow. He takes a shot at one of the Ghouls next to Craven.

 

[Endur]

Round 2 Initiative
18: Lylamwyn -- loads and fires crossbow at ghoul, but hits the wall instead (3+ modifiers).
18: Chat -- paralyzed for 2 more rounds.
15: 6 Human Skeletons -- blocked by Ogre Skeleton in the doorway
14: Ogre Skeleton (-9 hp) claws Raner (claw 5+6=11, miss, and Raner 16+6=22, hit for 3+5=8 damage)
14: Belaver moves up and casts CLW on Toriah (healing 4 points)
13: Toriah -- loads his crossbow and fires at the cultist, striking her in the chest (19+3=22 hit, 6 points of damage)
13: Gnaw -- retreats into the torture chamber further and hides behind a stone column (full defense) and commands his remaining two ghoul lackeys to "Eat the giant human"
12: Kerwyn -- loads and shoots his crossbow again at the cultist, hitting her in the arm this time. (17+3=20 hit for 5 points of damage)
11: Spugnoir casts a spell that sends four beams of light from his hands into one of the ghouls fighting Craven, dropping the ghoul (Lylamwyn recognizes the spell as Magic Missile). Spugnoir mentions to Lylamwyn, "I hate to admit this, but I did not bring my spellbook along and that was the last spell I had memorized. I was just gathering herbs and the book is awfully heavy. Any chance I could spend some time reading your book after this fight? I'd be happy to compensate you by letting you borrow my wand of Protective Shield and I'll let you have your pick of potions from my shop in Hommlet when we get back."
10: Cultist and 2 Gnolls --Bleeding Cultist orders the Gnolls to stand protectively in front of her while she kneels and rolls up the blanket full of strange items.
5: Lenya-- A blast of green flame leaves Lenya hand and blasts the ghoul clawing Craven (10+4=hit, 5 points of damage)
4: The last ghoul protecting Gnaw attempt to bite and claw Craven (bite 7+2=9 miss, claw 18 hit, claw 7 miss, 3 points of damage dc12 fort save 1+6 = 7, Craven is paralyzed).
4: Craven--paralyzed for 4 more rounds
2: Raner--Swings his axe at the Skeletal Ogre, striking a glancing blow at the right knee (8+5=13 hit, dam 2+4-5=1).

 

[Endur]

Round 3 Initiative
18: Lylamwyn -- casts Magic Missile on the last ghoul (for four points of damage)
18: Chat -- paralyzed for 1 more round.
15: 6 Human Skeletons -- blocked by Ogre Skeleton in the doorway
14: Ogre Skeleton (-10 hp) claws Raner (claw 7+6=13, miss, 17+6=23, hit for 4+5=9 damage)
14: Belaver moves up and casts CLW on Raner (healing 8 points), being careful to make use of cover to avoid being in the Giant Skeleton's AOO area
13: Toriah -- fires his crossbow at one of the Gnolls, but misses (3+3=6 miss).
13: Gnaw -- hidden out of sight
12: Kerwyn -- loads and shoots his crossbow again at one of the gnolls, hitting the Ogre Skeleton instead with no appearent effect. (13+3=16, hit cover, 2-5=no damage)
11: Spugnoir draws and loads his crossbow and hands his wand to Lylamwyn.
10: Cultist (-11) and 2 Gnolls --Wounded cultist continues rolls up the blanket full of strange items. Gnolls bark and laugh.
5: Lenya-- Another blast of green flame leaves Lenya hand and blasts the ghoul clawing Craven, dropping the last ghoul (17+4=hit, 3 more points of damage)
4: Craven--paralyzed for 3 more rounds
2: Raner decides to fight more defensively, using his expertise and combat defense to dodge the giant skeleton (+4 to ac, -5 to attack). Swings his axe at the Skeletal Ogre, he strikes another glancing blow at the right knee (14+0=14 hit, dam 2+4-5=1).

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Craven stands there, giant-sized and unable to move, screaming inside his own head. It was like a nightmare come to life, being unable to defend himself against the monstrosities.*

 

[Endur]

Round 4 Initiative
18: Lylamwyn -- uses Spugnoir's wand to cast shield on himself while guarding Craven
18: Chat -- paralysis ends.
15: 6 Human Skeletons -- blocked by Ogre Skeleton in the doorway
14: Ogre Skeleton (-11 hp) claws Raner (claw 17+6=23, miss, 6+6=12, miss)
14: Belaver casts cure minor wounds and heals Raner for 1 point of damage
13: Toriah -- fires crossbow again at one of the gnolls, missing (10+3=13)
13: Gnaw -- hidden out of sight
12: Kerwyn -- loads and shoots his crossbow again at one of the gnolls, missing. (9+3=12, miss)
11: Spugnoir --walks into the other room and shoots his crossbow at a gnoll, missing (1)
10: Cultist (-11) and 2 Gnolls --Wounded cultist continues rolls up the blanket full of strange items. Gnolls bark, but have stopped laughing.
5: Lenya-- moves to the other room and fires a blast of green fire at the Ogre Skeleton (8+4=hit, 2 points of damage)
4: Craven--paralyzed for 2 more rounds
2: Raner--Swings his axe at the Skeletal Ogre, missing due to his more defensive position (6+0=6 miss).

 

[Seonaid]

"Oh hells!" shrieks Toriah before the combat sets in. When the skeletal ogre hits him, he barely recovers his composure to fire his crossbow.

"Olidammar' save us!" he prays when his crossbow bolts keep missing. "I can' keep this up!" he warns the others. "That ogre nearly took off m'head." He doesn't look good, bleeding profusely from the hit. His face is pale and his expression wavers between determination and gibbering fear.

OOC: fighting defensively