12. Tracking the Trogs (for Alethan and Stonjuz only)

[dmw71]

Tracking isn't something what can be done with a hoard of people pressing at your backside. Normally, the obvious choice would be to take Alordan with me..."[/dialog] he pauses, out of respect, "That ain't gonna happen now, though, is it? So..." he eyes the rest of the group, "you up for it, master sneak?" He looks pointedly at Shanny, the Helpful Halfling, then nods to the mayor, turns, and begins walking west towards the river to try and pick up the trogs' trail. Kaltar calls out to his departing party mate: "Gwilt, we will go to the Goat. Seek us there once you have done your reconnoitre."

Shannigans hurriedly catches up to the ranger. "Already you're gonna need my help. You're going the wrong way. They came from over there." He raises his arm to the southeastern direction he saw from the Dragon's rooftop. Continuing his way west, Gwillt calls out over his shoulder, "The first attack came from the west," he points to the area past the crossroads, between the Dragon and the Goat. "Ferrell said they seemed to come from the south, so I'm gonna start where's I first seen 'em and work my way south from there." He stops and squares off with Shannigans and finishes, "I don't tell you how to go about castin' spells, now, do I?"

I assume south to north, since it seems to be the outflow from the waterfall sourcing it.

This.

---

I ran out of time, but the above will at least introduce your situation. I'll try to add another update later today.

[Alethan]

With a wink and a smile, Gwillt turns from the halfling and begins searching out the tracks. He starts where they first saw the large group of trogs come into town from the west. He will try to follow their tracks to the point of origination.

"Shanny, I need you to keep an eye out for trouble while I'm tracking. I can't easily do both at the same time."

[dmw71]

The ranger has little difficulty following the trail left behind by the numerous swamp beasts, only occasionally needing pause to stay on track. The halfling companion serves as lookout and the pair make their way from the west almost due south. A half hour or so of deliberate progress later, the tracks become more scattered, with a majority leading east by southeast.

Another half hour passes when the ranger signals the halfling for quiet; an action out of practice more so than necessity as Shannigans has proven to be a worthy tracking partner when it comes to moving tactfully and silently. He intensely studies their current location. The hard earth beneath their feet begins to soften. The excellent visibility of the midday sun affords the ranger the luxury of noticing the terrain becoming more swampy several hundred yards further in the direction they've been traveling."We're close," he whispers.


Gwilt is able to to deduce that their lair is near, but the increased "foot" traffic in a more wide range of directions makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly where, exactly, it might be.


(Alethan, please roll a d20 for me.)

[Stonjuz]

Gwilt turns to request the assistance keeping watch and is momentarily puzzled as to Shannigans' whereabouts, until the hobbit arises from the crouched position. He moves his facial covering down a bit and gives a friendly 'two-finger salute' to the brow and returns the mask over the nose. He steps closer to the ranger and does not get as low as before as they continue on.

[Alethan]

Per DM request... [1d20] = 17

[dmw71]

Per DM request... [1d20] = 17

Noted... thanks.

What is your objective at this point?

[Alethan]

Since the trail seems too muddled to tell anything further, Gwillt begins looking at his surroundings to determine the location of the nest.

OOC: Dave, what kind of creature knowledge does Gwillt have of trogs? Does he know where/how they nest or create dwellings?

He also uses his nose.

Gwillt scans the surrounding area, looking for likely places for a nest near the river - anything that might be suitable habitation, unless he knows specifically what he's looking for - and as he walks around the area, he tries to determine if the stench of trog is stronger or weaker and in what areas it might be stronger. He does not rule out the possibility that they have an underwater entrance to a cavern or cave, so he looks for signs of deep water in the river (larger water holes) or notes areas of the river where it comes close to rocks/cliffs from the nearby mountains (if we've gone that far).

[Stonjuz]

Shannigans looks back the way they came. He visualizes the best places to put traps.
"Pits and snares could stop a few, but not a whole nest. What shall we do?", he whispers when given the opportunity.

[dmw71]

Dave, what kind of creature knowledge does Gwillt have of trogs? Does he know where/how they nest or create dwellings?

Gwilt does not have any prior first-hand experience with troglodytes or their lair. His conclusions stem strictly from his knowledge of the behaviors and activities of other more common species, and the assumption that these troglodytes will adhere to those known patterns.

[dmw71]

Since the trail seems too muddled to tell anything further, Gwillt begins looking at his surroundings to determine the location of the nest, scanning the surrounding area, looking for likely places for a nest near the river - anything that might be suitable habitation. The tracks are troglodyte in form, but there is no hint of the previously stench. Still, the ranger believes they are relatively close. Thinking that the creatures may have an underwater entrance to a cavern or cave, he looks for signs of deep water in the river or areas of the river where it comes close to cliffs of the nearby mountains.

Suddenly, the two of you freeze. You hear an unmistakable sloshing sound approaching you from further down the direction you were heading. The source of the sound is not visible, but it is definitely heading in your general direction from, what you guess to be, a hundred feet or so away.


You're in a more swampy area so there is adequate room to seek cover pretty much anywhere. You believe whatever is approaching you is either: 1) Keeping low to the ground to intentionally avoid detection, or B) Already low to the ground.

[Alethan]

If there is any way to position himself to where there is open ground between him and the sound, Gwillt will do just that, motioning for Shanny to follow his lead. Once he has made that move, he'll take cover and ready his bow with a broad head arrow.

If there is no such area, then he will slowly backpedal away from the noise until it is no longer approaching them or until they get to a clearing, when he will attempt to do what is described in the above paragraph.

[Stonjuz]

(Told the wife what was currrently happening.......Without hesistation, she said we should run like hell? )
After back-tracking to the so called clearing, Shannigans finds his position, parallel or shortly to the rear of the human, hiding behind a fallen tree and waits with drawn arrow.

A timing issue perhaps? Ill make some attack rolls for your future use. In case you are hoping to move the combat along while Im at work in the day time. At night, I can make my own, and the halfling wont attack unless the human ranger does first.

shortbow thac0 21 [1d20] = 14 dmg [1d6] = 5
shortbow thac0 21 [1d20] = 8 dmg [1d6] = 6

Please use these only if you must update quicker than I can get back to the game. Just in case.

[Alethan]

If it is a natural animal, Gwillt can always try to befriend it.

[Stonjuz]

But I cant.
And I dont want your beaver growling at me. Or looking at me when its hungry.

Wait!!!! Unmistakable? Bipedal? Quad?

Catching a glimpse of the ranger, every other second or so and with senses wildly open, the first thing to mind is the human's smell, which he was unable to detect earlier.
Shannigans holds his breath and gets that 'calm before the storm' feeling. Waiting for either signal, fire, hold or retreat, the halfling's bow quivers back and forth off-target slightly.

[Stonjuz]

With the delay, the halfling thinks for a moment that perhaps they have 'lost' whatever had startled them. Then realizes that they may be being stalked after-all. He winces at the foilage trying to percieve through.

[dmw71]

The sounds are approaching rapidly as the pair seek a bit of a clearing in an attempt to identify the source of the incoming noise. Knee high (for a human) reeds still populate most of the swampy area however, but you settle into the nearest spot providing you a bit of a clearing in front of you, providing you five yards or so of plain sight.

In the distance, you can see the reeds in front of you become displaced as several somethings are trampling their way in your direction. You prepare, weapons at the ready, for whatever it might be.

Closer.

Closer.

Once they're at about 30-feet from your current position you can see that whatever is approaching seems to split, as the reed trail you've been witnessing seems to fan out in either direction; you suspect whatever they are, they're attempting to surround you. Still no sight of whatever it is, so they must under two feet tall.

Without warning, blasts of of water spray at you from all directions, all targeting Gwilt's head and face, but the ranger is able to duck out of the way of the blasts. He remains low.

That's when they appear.

The creatures stand about a foot tall and resemble upright gila monsters with prehensile forepaws. Their backs are colored a mottled gray and brown, and they have yellow underbellies and short tails. Whatever they are, there are at least ten of them and they've encircled you both, surrounding you. After their stun attempts with the blasts of water failed, they begin to close!

---

Please roll individual initiative and declare your actions.

[Alethan]

Bah. There are too many and it doesn't meet the requirements for Animal Empathy.

Initiative [1d10] = 5

To Hit, Shortbow [1d20+4] = 1+4 = 5

Oh, fu...

To Hit, Shortbow [1d20+4] = 20+4 = 24 (well, I guess if you're going to save against a broken weapon, you should do it with a 20...)

Second attack, if that is possible...

To Hit, Shortbow [1d20+4] = 15+4 = 19
Damage, Sheaf Arrow [1d8] = 6

[dmw71]

The archers take aim and prepare to loose arrows at the tiny creatures swarming them, but the pesky water-shooting lizards act first. They all converge on you and only one of them is able to successfully land an attack, scraping Shannigans (-2).

Gwilt and Shannigans are each able to get off two shots (I will use these rolls to resolve the first round), and each hitting once, killing their opponents, leaving four left on either side.


Initiative and actions again for round 2.

[Alethan]

Gwillt quickly drops his bow and draws his curved blade, swinging low at the swarming creatures...

"What the hell are these things?" he manages to ask as he swings...

Initiative [1d10] = 1


To Hit, Scimitar [1d20+4] = 14+4 = 18
Damage, Scimitar [1d8+3] = 7+3 = 10

[Stonjuz]

"How did they get the jump on us so fast? Wasnt ready for that."
Shannigans next drops the bow and faces off to the nearest foe and lets fly the arcane bolt from within his fingertips.

MM [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3
He then pulls his daggers and steps back in defense.