IC VI

[zebediah]

Drudsa is ready to go.

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers are returned their weapons without comment and depart for Castle Mistamere, retreading familiar ground as they travel along the road leading in the general direction of Aleena's cave and beyond. When the road forks, however, the party continues along the main road instead of turning west. Within minutes the road narrows down to a single track. There is no sign of human habitation in the barren hills on either side of the road.

After another hour of riding the track turns abruptly northeast, towards the lake, and mounts a steepish hill covered in dusty shrubs. Cresting the top of the hill the companions see the ruined walls of the castle off in the distance, perhaps a mile or two away; immediately in the valley below they see a group of six hyena-headed humanoids, clad in leather jerkins and carrying short bows and maces. The beasts loll about a guttering fire; the mostly devoured carcass of some beast -- sheep or goat, likely -- half buried in the ashes. The creatures do not seem to notice the party.

Actions, please. At this point the party is perhaps 300 feet from the gnolls, in a straight shot. It would likely be possible to creep around the side of the hill, but on foot this action would take some twenty or thirty minutes, and I would make another surprise roll unless Saul or Rhys are the ones creeping.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"The creatures have ranged weapons, so it would be wiser to approach them unnoticed. Once we are a bit closer we can try to put them to sleep with a spell."

[Luis]

Saul gestures if he should go down, he already has his bow strung and an arrow ready.

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf has his short bow out and an arrow nocked. He will fire if anyone else fires, otherwise he assumes they have a plan...

Sleep has a range of 240', so we are close.

[zebediah]

Yes, we only need to advance 60' before Drudsa can cast a spell. I think we can move in the standard formation, just in case they notice us and start firing, but it would be ideal if we don't do anything except moving until we are within spell range.

[Bouv]

Tratiln nods in agreement, "Let's put them to sleep and try to question them as to why they are so close to Threshold."

[thirdkingdom]

Okay, y'all can use the surprise round to hustle to within 240-220 feet of the gnolls, but will not be able to cast spells during the surprise round. I will roll for initiative as normal at the beginning of the upcoming round. Also, I am assuming everyone is still mounted.

[frobozz]

Removed post per action change after clarification by TK.

[Alethan]

Removed post per action change after clarification by TK.

[thirdkingdom]

Remember, guys, that this is the surprise round, which essentially means that you will be noticed at the beginning of the next round. Not sure I made that clear. So, I would like to limit the OOC strategizing/moving around to some degree. Sure, there can be some planning. Of course, y'all can always duck back down the backside of the hill to discuss things and you should be relatively* safe.

*i.e. not promising this, especially if you spend ten-twenty minutes game time planning.

[Alethan]

Sorry. I didn't realize this was a surprise round...

[zebediah]

We have time to get within spell range before they notice us so I would rather make our move and try to get this finished with a spell. Even if the spell doesn't get them all or if they win initiative it is more likely that we end this within a couple of rounds.

[Alethan]

Rhys the traveler

Rhys retrieves his bow and quiver and readies an arrow. He will follow the others' lead. Assuming it will involve firing arrows, he prepares to do so...

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

I guess I did not realize we were out in the open either. I agree with Zeb's thinking on this.

Lanny stares down at the hyena-headed creatures in the valley.

"Gnolls!" he utters quietly, the disdain apparent in his voice, his fists clenched firmly at his side.

"Quickly, before they see us, let's rush in and put them to sleep. Bows at the ready... A couple of horses on the flanks to prevent their escape would not hurt us either. Let's go!"

I believe even those of us at 20' movement speed should be able to run 60' feet in one round, to get within the 240' range. Then hopefully either Drudsa or Tratiln will win inititiative over the gnolls while the bowmen move up into missile range.

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad thinks there may be a way for the group to lull the gnolls to sleep, without giving up the element of surprise. He whispers his ploy to the group, "If one of us spell casters was invisible, he may just get close enough to cast Sleep, and still hold the element of surprise. And with Saul and Rhys being adept at sneaking, they could accompany the caster for support. The rest of us could prepare to charge in if the tactic fails, or if there are any remaining gnolls."

Here's Bregalad's strategy, listed in steps.....

1. Bregalad or Lanny casts Invisibility upon Drusda or Tratiln.
2. The invisible caster gets close enough to cast Sleep upon the gnolls, with Rhys and Saul beside him for support.
3. After the Sleep spell is cast, the rest of the party closes in upon any remaining gnolls.

Anyways, this may be a good time to try out a new tactic. If it works, we could to employ it in future encounters.

[thirdkingdom]

Sorry. I didn't realize this was a surprise round...

Yeah, that was my bad. I noted it in the "Rolls" thread but forgot to make it explicit in the IC post. Essentially, this is a random encounter, the gnolls were surprised, the PCs weren't and the encounter distance was 300 yards.

[Bouv]

Tratiln will begin moving up with his comrades, getting closer with his hands free in case he is needed to cast a spell

@frobozz - I don't think Tratiln has ever won iniative! And yes, I should have a shield, I thought I had figured it all out, thanks for the heads up

[Innana]

Thordin the dwarf

"Innana, the task you requested of me has been completed. It was a pleasure to create this for you."

With that, he will hand the trinket over to the lady.

In a low voice he states "I could not help but be inspired by your hair, so I, uh, made it red?." Thordin....blushes?

Innana takes the trinket in her hand and gazes at its ruby red clarity. "It looks like a cut gem, and even catches the light." Amazing work." Innana holds the trinket up to the sun, and takes a few moments to admire Thordin's beautiful work. "You must have kept yourself very busy, my friend." Innana walks over to Bregalad and hands him the good luck charm she promised him if he survived. "This was handcrafted by our master glass maker, Thordin. She holds a glass die up in the air by a silver chain. "This is a your lucky charm I promised you if you survived the last adventure. A die with no ones, or two's, just three, four, five and three sixes." Innana hands the charm over, and adds."I hope this helps with your luck Bregalad. It feels lucky, we will have to see how it works for you."

[Innana]

Innana the fighter;

Innana quietly pulls her sword from its sheath, and ready s herself for the attack. She whispers directions to her horse, Bliss, "Steady Bliss, I will need you to be patient, and then you can show me what you got."

Innana awaits for a sign to attack.