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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1497000" data-attributes="member: 1210">Gnollz!A day of strenuous hiking, broken by many meals and snacks, culminates in our wee heroes entering a canyon.  They camp there, and in the morning they move into and up the canyon, emerging on the top of a rough low ridge that runs like a half-grown beard on the face of the land.“Following treasure maps is hard,” whines Federico.The day is long and dusty; by afternoon, the party is pretty tired.  They break for a snack, everyone enjoying the chance to sit down for a minute (most easily find large rocks suitable for sitting).  Then they resume their march, a bit more well-spirited.  Federico lighten the mood with his japes, riding his dog Ethel, which he purchased just before this expedition.The group’s path leads them down into a wide gully.  Scattered gravel and larger rocks make the group pick their way carefully; all around them, wherever the larger rocks have left enough space, there are gnarled bushes with thick, strong branches.  The travel is fairly difficult, and then suddenly Federico spies movement-“Gnolls!” he screams.  Then he starts singing a jeering song.  His reptilian finger is pointing ahead, and the rest of the group sees a trio of hyena-headed humanoids moving in their direction.The gnolls have apparently already seen our heroes, for they release a volley of arrows before anyone else has a chance to react.  The shafts sing through the air, and two of them pierce Ed in the arm and leg!  “Aaargh!” she cries, staggering, her unwounded hand grasping at the arrow in her wounded arm in sudden shock.  She bursts into tears.  Then she drops, bleeding heavily.Mama and Captain Cavedwarf both spring forward to aid Ed.  The Captain reaches her first, and his druidic powers flow forth.  Green, life-giving energy flows from him and the arrows pop free as her wounds knit and close up, leaving her bruised and tender but whole.  Her eyes flutter open, and then Mama lays healing hands upon her as well.  Most of the rest of the group has moved up to attack the gnolls.  Federico stops singing and casts a sleep spell, dropping one of the enemy; and Mama unlimbers her sling to give the advancing group a little cover.  Captain Cavedwarf roars his own name as an arrow bounces from his armor, and stops his movement forward, instead starting to gesture and chant.  His voice rises in a long appeal to nature and then a dire rat appears next to the gnolls!  With a loud squeak, it attacks!  The Captain, meanwhile, summons a wolf as well, and with the two animals near them the gnolls begin falling back, shooting as they do!  But they’re considerably disheartened when another wolf appears, this one summoned by Trinia, and joins the attack.  One of the gnolls drops when Captain Cavedwarf himself finally reaches the battle, swinging his heavy club into it.  The gnoll staggers and a wolf tears it down from behind, ripping out its throat.  The last gnoll standing is beleaguered, and finally yields.Leaving our heroes with two gnoll prisoners.“What are we going to do with them?” Trinia asks.Nobody really seems to know. “Well,” says Captain Cavedwarf after a moment’s consideration, “they attacked Ed and messed up her arm.  Where I come from, in a case like this, we’d make ‘em serve you as your hand for a year and a day.”“Serve me?” Ed exclaims.“Ooh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Federico objects.  “I don’t think it would be safe.”The group argues for a few moments on the subject; then Mama makes a decision.  “We’re not keeping them with us,” she says, and lets them go with a stern warning and a lecture delivered as only Mama can deliver it.  The gnolls hang their heads in shame and skulk off, and the party moves quickly to vacate the hour in case the gnolls return with friends...Next Time: What treasure does the map lead to??</blockquote>

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