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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Morrow" data-source="post: 689253" data-attributes="member: 301">4th of CharderThe next day the party followed Mikek to Garyarch’s encampment. When they got close the party stopped to share spells and potions, preparing for the coming battle.   Mikek quickly found the secret entrance to the caverns.  He eased open the door and Foleful sent an arcane eye inside.  He saw a small cavern where a dozen bugbears lay sleeping.  Beyond it was a tunnel.  At the end of the tunnel was a small pool where a pair of bugbears were fishing, beyond which was another room where a handful of bugbears were resting.  Half way down the tunnel toward the pool, it opened up on the right revealing a large cavern where most of the bugbears congregated.   Kobold and goblin slaves were chained to the walls.  There were two firepits.  A goblin hung by his ankles above one, and a goblin tied to a spit slowly roasted over the other.  In one corner several bugbears watched a pair of goblins throw a goblin head between them, keeping it away from a kobold who scampered back and forth trying to get it.  When ever any of the trio slowed, they were severely beaten by the bugbears.Beyond the large cavern was another smaller one with a stone door at one side.  Foleful deduced that Garyarch had a private chamber beyond the door.  Foleful was able to isolate two bugbears weilding spiked chains, apparently Garyarch’s lieutenants, among the crowd.Krkara, Mikek, Igor, Bloody Pulp, and Rhuun slipped through the door, using their roguish skills to sneak amongst the sleeping bugbears and slit their throats.  They successfully killed eleven bugbears before they were spotted by one of the pair fishing at the other end of the tunnel.Mikek, Igor, and Bloody Pulp ran down the tunnel to neutralize the fishermen and the others in the chamber beyond.  Foleful cast a grease spell in the entrance to the larger cavern, causing much confusion as the bugbears tried to move against the intruders.Kriggle and Rhuun dispatched several bugbears who leapt across the grease, but not before Rhuun took a pair of nasty hits.Atarax began singing to inspire his companions while Thar cast prayer to increase their battle prowess.As the other moved down the tunnel to engage the bugbears Thar stopped to cast animate dead on the fallen bugbears.    Flesh began falling from the eleven dead bugbears as they climbed to their feet, becoming skeletal warriors ready to attack their still living brethren.The bugbears in the larger cavern began throwing down rugs over the grease, but were hampered by attacks from Kriggle, Rhuun, and Krikara.  Their situation became even worse when first Thar, then Atarax cast confusion spells.  Most of the bugbears immediately began attacking each other, and their attempts to defend their encampment disintegrated into chaos.  Foleful began summoning fire elemental dire apes, one after another, to attack the bugbears who weren’t yet confused.At that point a huge armored bugbear carrying a spiked chain entered the cavern.  Garyarch yelled, “What the hell is going on?”  He survayed the scene, “ I hate spellcaters, I’ve always hated spellcasters.  I will continue to hate spellcasters for the rest of my…”“Short!” interjected the party in unison.“Life,” finished Garyarch.The advancing skeletons were beginning to impede the party’s progress.  Rhuun tumbled by them into the cavern.  Thar cast invisibility and followed her.  He slipped by the fighting bugbears and placed one of the fire pits between him and Garyarch.  Then Thar instructed the skeletons to mob one of Garyarch’s lieutainents.  The skeletons charged go them out of the way of the rest of the party as Foleful summoned a stranged winged creature formed out of air, and then summoned a swarm of earth elemental stirges around Garyarch, most of whom immediately attached themselves to his body.Krikara fired arrows from hiding while Kriggle charged back and forth on Mighty Steed.Atarax attempted to cast hold person on Garyarch, with no effect.Mikek, Bloody Pulp, and Igor entered the cavern behind the party.  What they found was total carnage.  About half of the bugbears were dead, and most of the remainder fighting among themselves.  The bugbear skeletons were swarming one of Garyarch’s lieutenants while the other lieutenant and Garyarch himself were engaged with Foelful’s summoned monsters.   Now the battle would truly begin.</blockquote>

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