25. Split Left (Epsilon, Ewell and Kendrick)

[dmw71]

Epsilon directs the dust devil down the side passageway; its howling sound increasing as it enters the tighter confines of the more narrow side passage. After a moment, the sound becomes more "normal" leading you to believe it once again entered a more open area but, without a light source you are unable to see what lies ahead.

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  ______
 /      \
/        \
          \        @ = Dust Devil
          |
   Ep     | 
          @\  
   ______/\@\__
           \@@ \
           /    
 

[wolfpack]

epsilon will strike his hooded lantern

[dmw71]

Epsilon strikes his hooded lantern and, through the spiraling cyclone and flying debris in its path, you can see that it open into a much larger, open cavern. There is definitely motion within, and you know the fleeing youth had to at least pass through this chamber but, at least until the dust devil moves from from the side passage, you're unable to make out numbers or definitively place anything you see.

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  ______
 /      \
/        \
          \        @ = Dust Devil
          |
          | 
         Ep\  
   ______/\ \__
           \ @ \____
           /@@@     \__
          /  @         \____
        _/                  \
                             |
                             |
                             
 

[wolfpack]

using the same tactic epsilon will move forward and have the dust devil continue forward as well.

[dmw71]

As the dust devil is guided deeper into the chamber, Epsilon quickly spies a handful of the familiar vile swamp creatures on either side of the cavern.... and they spy him as well. Their stench is immediately released into the air. The cleric, having just been doused with the stench a short while ago, expects the tactic when he realizes he's been discovered and, despite the recent exposure and expectation, is still surprised at the strength of the stench which still reminds him of the worst curdled goat cheese imaginable.

(Your previous save was at +5; this one will be with a +7 modifier).

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  ______
 /      \
/        \
          \        @ = Dust Devil
          |
          | 
           \  
   ______/\ \__
           \Ep \____
           /        \__
          /            \____
        _/           b1     \
       / b4     @      b2 b3 |
      / b5     @@@           |
     /          @             \
    |                          |
    |                          |



 

[wolfpack]

I knew I should have waited until i got home

[1d20+7] = 1+7 = 8

[1d6] = 5

[dmw71]

[1d20+7] = 1+7 = 8

[1d6] = 5

Ouch.

Feel free to also post your actions.

[wolfpack]

Epsilon will step back and have the dust devil move between him and the trogs and yell back up the tunnel

They are down here hurry!

[dmw71]

Can you also make an important initiative roll?

[wolfpack]

[1d10] = 1

[dmw71]

Epsilon calls out for help and quickly backs up into the passageway, drawing the 'Dust Devil' back with him to guard the entrance. The troglodytes he spotted, and that spotted him, are definitely not the children he noticed initially entering this section. They swarm to the entrance, but stop before entering the cyclone of the cleric's spell.

Ewell and Kendrick arrive behind the cleric.

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  ______
 /      \
/        \
          \        @ = Dust Devil
          |
          | 
     Ke Ew\  
   ______/Ep\__
           \@ \____
           /@@@     \__
          /  @   b1  b3\____
        _/b4      b2        \
       / b5                  |
      /                      |
     /                        \
    |                          |
    |                          |



 

[Zhym]

"Let's back up into the other chamber," suggests Kendrick, "to use this choke-point to our advantage."

[onlyme]

Ewell yells,
Get that thing to attack em on one side, so I can skewer a couple more. We gotta get em now where we all have room to move.

[wolfpack]

epsilon will back up into the cave to let ewell foward and will send the dustdevil to attack the closest one.

and it misses horribly

[1d20] = 1

[onlyme]

1. how does ewell get affected by stench, since he still has a couple rounds of weakness left?
2) we can't run away even if Ewell would. They would catch us, potentially in a worse place. bottlenecking isnt great. But, is it better? Ewell in front, Kendrick in 2nd against 3 trogs? versus 5 on 5?
3) Would we know if these are males or females?

[Zhym]

Kendrick wasn't suggesting running away, merely taking the superior tactical position. This:

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  ______
 /      \
/        \
          \        
          |
        Ep|
      Ew b1\ 
   ____Ke/\b2\__
           \b3 \____
           /b4      \__
          /  b5        \____
        _/                  \
       /                    |
      /                     |
     /                       \
    |                         |
    |                         |

Is preferable to this:

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  ______
 /      \
/        \
          \        
          |
          |
           \ 
   ______/\ \__
           \   \____
           /        \__
          /  Ke  Ep    \____
        _/  b4 Ew b1        \
       /     b5 b2 b3        |
      /                      |
     /                        \
    |                          |
    |                          |

Having three of us in a position to attack one of them, and prevent them from surrounding us, is the battle position I'd prefer. The previous cavern has plenty of room to move around.

There is the question of what do do with the dust devil if we use the bottleneck to our advantage. I'd say it would be a great way to block the other passage so we don't get anything coming up from our rear.

Also, we aren't really 5 on 5. They are all 2 HD melee combatants; we are not. Only two of us are fighters, one of which is still 1st level. The two clerics' best use probably isn't in melee. Darrin's main job appears to be pin cushion. In a straight-up 5-on-5, we're outgunned if these are male trogs. And we just spent three rounds trying to kill one female.

I'd say to take every tactical advantage we can.[/ooc]

[onlyme]

Kendrick wasn't suggesting running away, merely taking the superior tactical position. This:

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  ______
 /      \
/        \
          \        
          |
        Ep|
      Ew b1\ 
   ____Ke/\b2\__
           \b3 \____
           /b4      \__
          /  b5        \____
        _/                  \
       /                    |
      /                     |
     /                       \
    |                         |
    |                         |

Having three of us in a position to attack one of them, and prevent them from surrounding us, is the battle position I'd prefer. The previous cavern has plenty of room to move around.

There is the question of what do do with the dust devil if we use the bottleneck to our advantage. I'd say it would be a great way to block the other passage so we don't get anything coming up from our rear.

Also, we aren't really 5 on 5. They are all 2 HD melee combatants; we are not. Only two of us are fighters, one of which is still 1st level. The two clerics' best use probably isn't in melee. Darrin's main job appears to be pin cushion. In a straight-up 5-on-5, we're outgunned if these are male trogs. And we just spent three rounds trying to kill one female.

I'd say to take every tactical advantage we can.[/ooc]

OK. I like that visual. That makes sense now... Ewell would eagerly do that. I think the dustdevil will expire before we could move it around, so might as well let it do damage to their rear while we attack their front until it is gone. Yes the m/f thing is huge, as most of the females were killed with one blow, where males generally are not.

[dmw71]

1. how does ewell get affected by stench, since he still has a couple rounds of weakness left?

Your stench penalty actually expires now as your contest in the last chamber lasted into the ninth round, and you and Kendrick arriving where you are would have been round ten, when the stench would have ended. However, Epsilon triggered a new batch of their special defenses so there's a new odor in the new room.

Epsilon was forced to make a new save as he actually entered the room; you guys have not, so, with the 'Dust Devil' still currently at force at the entranceway, and you guys backing up for strategic advantage, I will rule that the odor from these latest troglodytes would be contained in the "new" chamber and you guys will remain unaffected for now.

So, Ewell is at full strength, but anyone subjected to the new stench attack will be required to make a new save (with a significant bonus).

3) Would we know if these are males or females?

The females, on average, you suspect are a bit smaller, but it's difficult to tell the difference under normal circumstances. This batch that you're dealing with (b1-b5) look to be larger. Maybe even larger than males you've encountered previously.

[dmw71]

I'm leaving for my train in a minute and will resolve round 2 once I'm on board.

[dmw71]

Ewell yells, "Get that thing to attack em on one side, so I can skewer a couple more. We gotta get em now where we all have room to move." Epsilon controls the 'Dust Devil' to attack the nearest foe, but it misses badly and fizzles out. The cleric, visibly reeling from the affects of the beasts stench, backs further into the original chamber and allows the knight to get in front of him. "Let's back up into the other chamber," Kendrick calls "to use this choke-point to our advantage."

Your torchlight now only illuminates as far as the entrance to this side passageway and, as the swirling elemental dissipates, the anticipated onrush of the swamp creatures does not happen. An incoming javelin, targeting Ewell does, however, but sails wide and clangs harmlessly against the far wall.

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  ______
 /      \
/        \
          \  
      Ep  |
        Ew| 
      Ke   \  
   ______/\ \
 

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Rolls
R2 | javelin @ Ewell (16+): [1d20] = 7 [2d4] = 5