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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Seravin" data-source="post: 1480930" data-attributes="member: 6783">First ContactSilently, under a spell of invisibility and aided with a spell of darkvision, Ashimar crept forward; this next part was going to be straightforward if dangerous.  While the others waited somewhere behind, his mission was to scout out the cave that was somewhere before him.  A cave infested with some fifty trolls. Giant trolls with a strength greater than that of any ogre and vitually immortal, capable of healing every weapon-made wound.  Doubtlessly, thoughts of fire were in the forefront of Ashimar’s mind as he made his way through the wide tunnel.In and out and lots of fire.  That was the sum total of their plan.  Catch the trolls where they were weakest, apply alchemical and magical fire, and then run away.  The gnomes had promised that their hidey-hole would be safe, assuming they could outrun any surviving trolls long enough to make it there.  All Ashimar had to do was sneak in, find out where the trolls were fewest, and sneak out.  Simple.A guttural sound stopped the young rogue in his tracks as he peered into the grayness that his magical vision revealed to him.  He saw nothing, but heard another growling sound followed by a meaty thud and a snarl of pain and anger.  Cocking his head slightly the former rogue moved forward, his hand tightening on his rapier.  Hopefully it would be enough if the worse came.There were two trolls ahead, standing about ten feet apart and eyeing each other warily.  Created, rather twisted, in ages past, trolls were the ultimate shock troops.  Standing nine to ten feet tall and weighing around a quarter-ton, trolls were gangly creatures with hands twisted into claws and an intelligence that was on par with a slow child; a viscious, carnivorous child.  Their hide was rubbery and strange looking under the darkvision spell, but it seemed to pulse with a life all its own.Ashimar eyed the tunnel with an appraising eye. The widest opening was between the two trolls, otherwise he could try to maneuver around between either troll and the tunnel wall, which was a space of about five feet in either case.  He grimaced but he was certain he could do this.  A slow, steady step would see him through.He was twenty feet away when both of the trolls looked up and sniffed the air with interest.  Ashimar’s eyes widened and he suddenly wished that he was a witch who could talk to people with his mind.  The troll on the right took a step forward and sniffed again and Ashimar began to back up.  This wasn’t going good.  Both trolls grinned a feral smile, showing sharp fangs where most people had teeth and began to move forward slowly, following the intriguing…enticing scent.  The trolls were hungy, but then trolls are always hungry.Ashimar scrambled back almost thirty feet before he softly swore in a way unbecoming to a new priest of Sarath and stopped.  When the lead troll got near enough, Ashimar spoke the command word that activated his magic boots and then stepped forward and lunged.  Ashimar was working from surprise and was able to place the tip of the blade exactly where he wanted to.  The keen tip bit cleanly through the hide and sank deep into the troll, going all the way through the left lung before Ashimar was fully extended.  The blow would have killed a human.  The abrubt pain caused the troll to howl, a howl that could be heard clearly up and down the tunnel.  Fortunately for Ashimar both trolls were momentarily disorientated by his sudden appearance.Far down the tunnel, about sixty feet away, Kellron, Kestral, and Jallarzi and Sarah (Jallarzi’s familiar) all looked up and then looked at each other.  Kestral said the same thing that Ashimar had said when faced with the approaching trolls.Events seemed to speed forward into double time after that.  Using the hastening magic of his boots, Ashimar struck twice more at the troll he had just wounded, but the wounds beneath the shifting flesh  was already starting to close.  Kestral made her way down the tunnel, also under the benefit of Jallarzi’s darkvision spell, pulling out her enchanted light amulet from underneath her leather armor.  As soon as Ashimar and his monstrous opponents came into sight she stopped and prepped to throw the amulet to get some light in the area.Kellron wasn’t far behind, but weighted down with his armor, he had to break out into a full out run just to get near Ashimar and the trolls.  Wisely, he stopped before he was in range of the trolls swiping claws.The trolls were the next to move, the one in front of Ashimar clawing and biting, but only hitting solidly once.  The other troll moved forward to attack Kellron and swiped at the paladin , the great clawed hand pounding off his shield.Jallarzi finally moved forward her hand reaching into her spell component pouch and words springing to mind.  When she was close enough, she fired off a burst of three magic missiles against he troll fighting Ashimar.The fighting continued for several seconds, with Kestral throwing out two enchanted amulets to light up the tunnel and Jallarzi casting magic missiles before the odds shifted to the trolls, as two more trolls appeared, running towards the sound of the fight.“Sarath.” Muttered Kellron, invoking divine strength from the god as he swung at the troll.  Ashimar muttered the same sentiment as he furiously thrust into the troll he was fighting.Jallarzi invoked her own invective and for the first time in her career, a ball of flame exploded by her magical will, consuming all four trolls.  The first two trolls were completely overwhelemed and dropped, though their bodies were already repairing the damage caused by the weapons – fortunately the tales were correct and the wounds caused by the fire stayed as they were.Ashimar and Kellron both stepped forward to engage the new trolls, trusting the girls to take care of the two downed creatures.  Kestral and Jallarzi were only too happy to oblige.  Kestral stepped forwad, pulling out a ceramic flask of caustic acid.  She was going to take great care in applying it.  Jallarzi, thinking quickly, conjured another ball of flame, this time much smaller and less explosive.  A three foot diameter flaming sphere appeared on top of the other downed troll and began to burn merrily away.It was desperate now.  Everyone knew that the explosion almost certainly drew more trolls and they needed to stop the two surviving trolls before they fled.  Kellron and Ashimar fought furiously and managed to score several hits, their armor and speed respectively allowing them to avoid the return blows.  Kestral finished applying the acid expertly, burning the trolls eyes out.  It spasmed once as the acid ate through the thin wall past its eyes and into the brain.  Whatever spark of life the troll had, passed with a shudder.  “We have more trolls coming guys.”  She called out and moved towards the two amulets, intent on retrieving them before they fled.Kellron and Ashimar both finally dropped their two new opponents as Jallarzi conjured a second flaming sphere onto one of them.  As the first troll shuddered, Jallarzi maneuvered that sphere onto the remaining body.  The group looked around and breathed heavily.  The trolls weren’t very bright fighters, relying more on brute strength then anything else, but Kellron and Ashimar hadn’t gotten away entirely unwounded – aching ribs and bleeding flesh attested to that.  Fortunately, Jallarzi’s explosive fireball had turned the tide into their favor.Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, the four friends (and Sarah the familiar) hurried away back down the tunnel.  They would return in the morning and see if they could replicate this minor feat.There was a lot of this.  Go in, hit the guards, and retreat.  I still hate running troll encounters two years later.  The next post will skip a few days ahead.edits: some spelling and grammatical errors pointed out by AsEver.</blockquote>

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