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One Short Of A Baker's Dozen
Gnoll Day In The Woods
Early Afternoon, Warm Clear

Tammuz tries to understand all the suggestions being offered at once. He speaks in the Gnoll language to the few who used to live here, asking them the same questions he was asked so he can pass along the information to everyone.

"Chimney shaft only 10 feet down to reach inside cave. Rope tied there good idea." He nods his furry head, glad to hear that almost everyone has an opinion on how to be helpful. "Little ones can drop in there, but we scout cave mouth first."

He points to Meinhardt. "We only go up from here, not around. If you want to go other cave, you should not have come this way. No path from here to walk back around to ravine entrance."

He looks at Crobeus in his full metal armor. "Climb be difficult in heavy armor, but you strong enough not to fall to death, yes?"

The climb up the back of the rough ravine wall is indeed difficult, and the path is barely visible to the untrained eye, but the Gnolls try to help along anyone who needs aid, since they have made this climb many times before. The thicket of trees and vegetation growing out of the rock walls are both a nightmare to climb through, and a godsend to prevent anyone from falling all the way back down to the bottom when they do slip, as many of you do. After at least an hour of climbing and catching your breath, the whole group mercifully finds their way to the top without consequence, popping out over the very top of the tall ravine to a spectacular aerial view of the entire area.

Staying together to rest a bit and drink some much needed water, with Meinhardt wondering if they could simply walk along the ledges to reach the other caves, the Gnoll scouts return with interesting information. They speak to Tammuz who in turn offers the information to the group.

"Gnolls say bird guarding cave entrance. BIG bird!"

Actions?

Keya Redd H-E (C1/R1) AC:5 10/12
Stobart (C2) AC:5 17/20 CLW/CLW
Gyb the Meager (M2) AC:10 8/11
Pimlan (F1/T1) H-L AC:6 6/9
Renna (MU1/C1) Elf AC:4 7/9 CLW
Magdal (R1) AC:7 11/16
Crobeus (P1) AC:3 6/10
Bugs Donato G (T3) AC:3 24/24
Loyn Shortbeard D (F2) AC:5 22/23
Meinhardt (MU1) AC:10 5/5
Ithrandir (F1/MU1) AC:5 7/7
Daliedhur (F1/MU1) AC:3 9/9 (Cinder AC:6 4/4)

Tammuz
15 Gnoll Fighters

"If your scout could lead me, I could look also."

Keya Redd

Meinhardt


Responding to Tammuz, "Oh, I had no intentions on using the ravine entrance. The bandits are almost certainly on alert, watching for intruders from that angle." When they finally crest the ravine, he gazes in wonder at the view. "I was hoping we could skirt the top ledge and climb down on the far side. It looks a fair hike, but with trees to cover our approach along the way."

"So, appears it is myself and Stobart at the moment. Can I get another couple volunteers?"

Ithrandir

The elven spellsword mutters something in his native tongue about hating heights before starting the climb. He arrives at the top panting and sweating, but it wasn’t as hard as he thought, partly thanks to the vegetation that helped block the view of the drop below.

"Thank you, Keya. Perhaps you can identify that big bird when you see it. Things are getting more complicated. So, are we ruling out the idea of a frontal assault?"

Magdal

Magdal listens carefully to what everyone is planning, "Tell me where I will be most useful and I'll do that. If you want me to scout the entrance I can do that."

Crobeus - Human Paladin

"My weapons aren't really that good for dealing with skeletons, and my goal all along has been to rescue Rida and Haldric. I will join you and Stobart, Meinhardt."

Renna

Renna having committed to supporting the climbers (but not climbing herself) will keep to that course unless someone asks her to do something different.

She will ask the gnoll leader (in gnoll) if he knows "Are there air holes that you know of in the top of the cave we are planning to attack?"

Bugs

He nods along with Renna, seeing where she's going. "I see, I see. We seal up the holes and smoke them out. Pim and I can make a fire below after we seal it up. They won't know what hit them!"

"Also, why are we concerned about birds? Now, bats I can see."

He makes ready to move to the chimney. "Ready to go! And we even get ropes? Bonus."

Loyn-Dwarf fighter

Loyn watches the gnolls as they’re hesitant to reply to Tammuz. He’s not sure they actually have Tammuz’s back, let alone the rest of the companions.

He quietly says in gnomish to Bugs,“I think, there’s concealed areas in and out of the cave that the knolls aren’t telling us about. They may have a hidden agenda. So, stay vigilant down there!…. I’ll help lower you down…if you try to smoke them out, make sure you don’t end up smoking yourselves out. We may not be able to get down to you! But, I’ll be there to yank you out!”

Monsieur Rose wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 4:24 pm Bugs

He nods along with Renna, seeing where she's going. "I see, I see. We seal up the holes and smoke them out. Pim and I can make a fire below after we seal it up. They won't know what hit them!"

"Also, why are we concerned about birds? Now, bats I can see."

He makes ready to move to the chimney. "Ready to go! And we even get ropes? Bonus."

Pimlan reacts slightly thrown off "Wait we are gonna do what now? A fire? What are we gonna burn their furniture?"

Gyb

Gyb looks at Stobart, the cleric of Fharlanghn. "Gyb does not want to get killed today. Gyb was hoping for safety in numbers of gnolls and people. But if Fharlanghn wills it, Gyb will come along on the rescue."

He looks at Meinhardt. "Please tell Gyb there is a good rescue plan?"

Meinhardt


He nods in appreciation to Stobart, Crobeus, and Gyb. "Thank you, my friends. The plan is to slip into the old orc cave, locate Rida and Haldric, rescuing them if possible."

"We will approach the cave by traversing the top of the ravine and scaling down to the cave entrance (C). The bandits, if any returned, will likely be watching the eastern opening to the ravine. The death priests may have stationed zombies to guard the orc cave, however."

He produces three flasks of oil from his satchel and offers one to Crobeus and Stobart. "Take these, I can summon an invisible servant to carry a lit torch. If we encounter any guards, we can toss these and my servant will ignite the oil with the flame."

"Speaking of which, can I borrow a torch?"

One Short Of A Baker's Dozen
Splitting The Party
Early Afternoon, Warm Clear

Meinhardt convinces a few others to join him in rescuing the duo of Haldric and Rida, who were brought inside the orc cave at around this same time yesterday. If they are still there, and still alive, they will obviously need aid. As the splinter group of he, Gyb, Stobart, and Crobeus start making their way along the top of the ravine, darting from bush to tree in hopes of remaining undetected as they pass, each of them spot a group of boney humanoids standing at the entrance of the ravine, where they entered the caves area just a day before. It is difficult to count from so far away, but you guess there is between 15 and 20 skeletons stationed there now.

The Rangers move along with the Gnoll scouts for a second look at this Big Bird they are concerned about who is currently blocking the cave entrance. Both Keya and Magdal stand there in disbelief when they see what the gnolls were talking about, neither of them ever seeing such an odd looking creature before. One of the Gnolls points to a chain and rusty iron shackle wrapped tightly around one ankle of the monster.
Pimlan, Bugs, Loyn, and Renna stand above the rough hole in the rocky surface they were told leads down into a common area of the cave. There is no smoke or smell coming from the hole, and no light can be seen or sound heard below. Pimlan listens to the permanently overzealous Bugs, not sure he wants to die of affixation just for helping these Gnolls. Tammuz shakes his head no in answer to Renna's question about other vent holes, but Loyn seems apprehensive about this whole thing once he sees the 6 displaced Gnolls acting more secretively.

Tammuz speaks the the group still hidden from sight in a copse of trees. "How we do this? Fight with bear-bird be loud. Alert others inside cave to our attack."

Some of the Gnolls start chewing on a stinky brown leaf you don't recognize, gnashing their fangs and grunting as the effect starts to kick in.

Actions?

Keya Redd H-E (C1/R1) AC:5 10/12
Stobart (C2) AC:5 17/20 CLW/CLW
Gyb the Meager (M2) AC:10 8/11
Pimlan (F1/T1) H-L AC:6 6/9
Renna (MU1/C1) Elf AC:4 7/9 CLW
Magdal (R1) AC:7 11/16
Crobeus (P1) AC:3 6/10
Bugs Donato G (T3) AC:3 24/24
Loyn Shortbeard D (F2) AC:5 22/23
Meinhardt (MU1) AC:10 5/5
Ithrandir (F1/MU1) AC:5 7/7
Daliedhur (F1/MU1) AC:3 9/9 (Cinder AC:6 4/4)

Tammuz
15 Gnoll Fighters

Magdal

Magdal stands dumbfounded at the sight of the *bird* though relieved it is still chained up. She glances back at the gnolls as they ready themselves for battle and loads her arrow, "Gettin' past the big bird will be the hardest part I think so that's where my arrows will be aimed."

Renna

Given that the Gnolls are unwilling to give up the secrets of the caves air system, Renna will not push it not wanting to loose the allies in this situation. She will instead move to get the chimney climbers (Bugs and Pim) in position. "I will offer to tie a rope at the top to improve your climbing speed, if you do not have any oil I can give each of you a vial. I will have a lit torch at the top to drop down to you if you need it."

Meinhardt


Meinhardt indicates the large gathering of skeletons with a tilt of his head. "Just how many undead do they control? They are obviously expecting us to return, but I'd wager not from this angle. I suggest we descend within that copse of trees above the bugbear cave."

Daliedhur

OGRE MAGE wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:26 pm Tammuz speaks the the group still hidden from sight in a copse of trees. "How we do this? Fight with bear-bird be loud. Alert others inside cave to our attack."

Some of the Gnolls start chewing on a stinky brown leaf you don't recognize, gnashing their fangs and grunting as the effect starts to kick in.

The elf nodded at the gnoll chieftain - "It will bring the whole ravine down on us if it starts screeching" - he pondered - "There are magical ways to silence a foe, or to create an illusion to distract them, but alas, I do not yet command such powers" - he looked around at the others, to see if anyone spoke up on the topic.

"Can I ask, what are these leaves you are chewing before the confrontation?" - Daliedhur could not help but ask Tammuz.

"I would prefer to not kill it while chained up either.
We could offer it food, heck a whole deer, but that's not a sure thibg either."

Keya Redd

Stobart

Quonundrum wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:33 am Meinhardt


Meinhardt indicates the large gathering of skeletons with a tilt of his head. "Just how many undead do they control? They are obviously expecting us to return, but I'd wager not from this angle. I suggest we descend within that copse of trees above the bugbear cave."

"How many priests were there? Are three of us going to be enough?"

Bugs

"Oil is good, thanks. And the rope will help if we have to get back up quickly. Ok, it's go time Pim. Quiet-like everyone and good luck. Oh! if the rope is pulled three times quickly, then start pulling up."

Bugs grins at Pim. "Hey. Do you mind if I go first?" Bugs puts his hands on the chimney and tests for heat and soot. He'll cover his hands and face with any soot he finds. If there isn't any objection from Pim, or any clear fire from below, he'll start the descent.