You guys want me to float up this shaft to see what's up there?

While the party is catching their breath, Amara heads back outside and levitates further up to see if she could see anything. Then Vernon floats up the shaft and while going up, he sees a couple trolls throw flasks down the shaft, aiming for the walls. They explode into splashy fire. At first, Vernon thought the Trolls could see him, but when he observes them, they appear to be waiting for the party to try and come up the shaft. He move further up the shaft and comes outside to see 5 Trolls up there and one of them looks like the Troll that Kalliyan was describing during her encounter alone....

Byron awaits the next troll to come down and replies to Kali is usual mood of good humor and seriousness.

I'm not having all the fun.  I'm sharing it with Myarra, if she wants to call it fun.  You are welcome to come join us if you wish.

There's five Trolls up here and one of them looks strange. Dressed in chainmail and carrying a battle axe and spears. I think it might be the one Kalliyan was talking about.

Twiggy shrugs "We can wait them out. Let the magic users rest if need be. Those are most likely the last five."

Myarra can't hear or see Vernon, for which she's eternally grateful.  So, she has to wait until people from this side of the afterlife repeat the information.

She spends a few seconds just catching her breath and ensuring the trolls have ceased regenerating.

"Now, now, Sir Rockhead, killing is never supposed to be fun," she lies with a twinkle in her eye.  "Although I do appreciate the aerobic workout.  It allows me to drink an extra ale in the evening and still keep my girlish figure.  And speaking of good girls ..."

She drops to one knee and takes Shannon's face in her hands, grabbing a double handful of cheek ruff and giving the lynx a good scritching and a kiss on the top of her head.

"Who's a good girl, huh? Well, not me, unfortunately, but you are. Yes, you are!  Are you going to help mommy kill that evil troll who tried to hurt Aunt Kalli and your big brother?  Of course you are.  You're the iron paw of feline justice!"

Shannon suffers silently through her mistress' insanity.

"There had better be an extra rabbit for my dinner, or I swear I'm going to pee in your boots!"

While the group is waiting in the upper cave, Byron and Myarra hoist up Kalliyan and Roenthelm with a rope. The fire the Trolls started in the shaft above you prevents anyone from climbing up. Maybe Myarra could get up there without being burnt, but the rocks thrown down would hurt.

Vernon is hovering above the shaft hole when Amara levitated up. She can see the 5 Trolls surrounding the shaft, expecting someone to try the climb. The weird looking Troll spots the 8 Amaras and Amara is surprised at the speed at which the Troll fled into the cave entrance, abandoning the other Trolls, who are still focused on the shaft hole.

Name      Initiative   Health      Misc
Byron                  76/85
Myarra                 81/95
Aliana                 57/75       Flight
Shannon                47/47
Twiggy                 38/38
Amara                  54/54       Mirror Image 80 rounds
Roenthelm              63/75
Kalliyan               53/53
Raieylan               32/32

Trolls Killed: 10

Main Game Map has been updated

After Roen was lifted up to the rest of the party, he dusted himself off and looked around,

"So, what's the plan? I'm assuming we're going to rest here awhile?"

Kali makes herself comfortable once hoisted up, looking at the others. "Savage or not, you have to admire their determination." she muttered, looking at the cave she chewed on her lip in thought.

Their leader just ran away into another cave!

Twiggy frowns "I hope he is not planning on coming under us and  then we will be trapped."

"I wonder if using Diplomacy would work now? We're defeating them pretty badly. Does anyone speak Troll? They might listen to us now just to get rid of us."

In reply to Roenthelm (msg # 976):

Aliana pondered, her large eyes on the caves
"I speak Draconic and Sylvan, but i suspect that won't help.  I do, however, have magic left that could translate someone's words into the right language "

"We have a couple of minutes," Myarra agrees.  "I have no objection if someone can actually speak to the trolls and get them to stop.  Meanwhile, I'm going to see what it's going to take to haul the human pickle barrel here up to the next cave entrance.  I promise not to do anything provocative until you give your diplomacy a try."

So saying, Myarra returns to the entrance and takes a look up the slope, trying to figure out where the next cave mouth is, and if she can climb, or will need to fly.

Myarra can see Amara(s) hovering up in the air about 50 feet above her...

Kali looked at the others. "I know that if the troll attacked me earlier is there, he spoke common well enough to threaten me. I don't think the issue is communication - it's their willingness."

Byron looks at Roen.

Feel free to try and talk some sense into them.  I doubt they will listen in any language.

During the short break Byron checks to see how bad he is hurt.

Byron smiles at Kali and she can sense his true concern for her.

That troll wouldn't happen to know your aunt would it?

Kali allowed a weak smile. "He wasn't one for talking other than pointing out how he wanted to kill me. He speared Raieylan and came at me. When I cast magic at him, he likewise cast some magic - rare foe a troll. it was then I knew I was in danger, and when Raie was far enough away, I flew back"

She sighed, looking a bit sad. "I am a little ashamed I fled, but I know had I stayed I would have died, as would have raie"

Twiggy chuckles at Kali "Don't be silly. We are not paladins of old standing against evil till the death. We are adventurers. If retreating doesn't harm anyone in the party and can save our hides then it is the best thing to do.  Plus, if you get hurt I fear Byron would do something stupid out of rage. I think our best move is to go back down the hole and make sure we do not get surrounded. We hurt them but also drained ourselves. A strategic retreat may be in our best interests now."

Byron smiles at Kali.

I'm glad you both are ok.  There is no shame in leaving a battle you know you cannot win.  I've done it before and I'm sure I will do it again at some point in the future.

Byron wants to taunt the trolls some to see if they will come on down to their destruction, but holds his tongue to give Roen and the others a chance at diplomacy.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Thu 15 Dec 2022.

Roen tries to be diplomatic with the Trolls,

"We just want our friends back and we'll be on our way. No more blood needs to be spilled."

16:45, Today: Roenthelm rolled 36 using 1d20+17.  Diplomacy.

And surprisingly, Roenthelm actually gets a response in bad Common.

"No more friends. Master drank blood. We eat meat. We eat you next."

Then there is some arguing in a language none of you understand. Amara(s) floating near the ledge see a couple Trolls pushing around the one that spoke down the shaft.

"We don't want to hurt you anymore. We just want our friends back and we will leave."

14:28, Today: Roenthelm rolled 31 using 1d20+17.  Diplomacy.

Amara saw the strange looking Troll abandon his friends and run into the cave, not that they even noticed as they started arguing with each other in their guttural language. She thought about casting another spell on them, but there was nobody available to take them out before the spell expired, so it would be a waste to cast anything at the moment. She saw the road that led to the cave and figured it would be easier to travel than the shafts the party was currently using. She figured those were escape tunnels for the Trolls so they could regenerate, but that plan was spoiled for them. 10 Trolls are officially dead and to Amara, that was a considerable number. She saw Myarra down below, so she descended down to give her the news.