Elboc squints into the distance, eventually able to make out humanoid forms with strange, overly-large heads and hunched shoulders.  They appear to be dressed in some sort of mottled yellow-and-brown hides, and they have similarly-colored quadrupeds with them.

As they come closer is become clear that they are not dressed in the skins, but that they are their hides.  A band of six gnolls and five hyenas is approaching at a jog.

OOC:
I assume that you meant that Elboc looks, and not Voran.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:58, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

Roak stops everyone and turns to Elboc. "Well, what do you see?" he says impatiently.

OOC: Yes, I did mean Elboc. No idea why I wrote Voran

"A group of gnolls," says Elboc as he readies his bow. "We should prepare for combat."

Voran looks alarmed. "Oh, dear. Well, since we have a bit of time, I propose the guards stay with our treasures and we head out as a group to intercept the gnolls. I can offer a blessing for us before they reach us."

The gnolls and their hyenas advance, but there's plenty of distance and our heroes are able to act first.

OOC:
07:27, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Monsters' Initiative.
07:27, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Players' Initiative.

Lanliss readies his Wand of Paralyzation for when they get in range.

Elboc will cast sleep at them.

Elboc casts his spell at its extreme range, and all five hyenas drop, deeply asleep.  Their gnoll companions are too busy rushing forward to realize that this has happened until they are too far past where the sleeping animals are to do anything about this.

Lanliss points his wand and one of the six remaining gnolls falls, frozen in place.

OOC:
Hamburg, Roak, and Elder Voran, we'll go on to the enemy's actions when you've posted.

Elder Voran utters a prayer and the party is empowered!

Cast Bless--all members of the party have +1 to hit and +1 to damage for 6 turns!

Roak prepares his bow and fires at one of the still-moving gnolls!

Hit easily (AC -2) for 4 hp on one non-sleeping, non-paralyzed gnoll.

13:17, Today: Roak The Quick rolled 4 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 3.  Damage.
13:17, Today: Roak The Quick rolled 19 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 17.  Shortbow on non-paralyzed, non-sleeping gnoll.

Hamburg finds himself befuddled, and with no way to affect the situation, which is still quite a long way from the party.

The enemy, finally noticing that their numbers have dwindled, race toward the party, trying to get to them before any more major mishaps can befall them.

OOC:
I didn't get a response from Hamburg, but he doesn't have anything that will be effective at that range anyway.

The enemy are at 150 feet from the party as the next round starts, and I'll just keep the prior initiative order.  It's your turn, guys, since all they could do was run this last round.

Elboc sends an arrow at the nearest gnoll.

OOC:
20:47, Today: Elboc Ice Eyes rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  To hit (bow +1). – 16
That hits AC 1, unless there's a range penalty

OOC:
That does hit, and I'm going to need the damage it does.

Even at that distance, with help from the blessing, Lanliss shoots a long arc and makes a perfect shot in a charging gnoll's neck.

10:16, Today: Lanliss rolled 22,2 using d20+2,d6+1 ((20,1)).

OOC:
Lanliss, can I have you roll damage again, to add to the existing damage?  You rolled a natural 20, and I've got that down as a critical hit in the "Rules and Rulings" thread (post #4), for double damage (rolled twice, bonuses doubled).
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:22, Wed 15 Sept 2021.

10:23, Today: Lanliss rolled 5 using 1d6+2 ((3)).

The gnoll that Lanilss targeted drops, an arrow transfixing its next in exactly the wrong spot, from a gnoll's perspective.  Only three of the creatures remain, running toward the party.

OOC:
I still needs damage from Elboc, along with actions for Hamburg, Roak, and Elder Voran.

Roak keeps firing at the gnoll that he hit before...

I forgot to add Bless--hits AC -2 again for 7 hp damage!

11:34, Today: Roak The Quick rolled 6 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 5.  Damage! (add +1 for Bless)
11:34, Today: Roak The Quick rolled 18 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 16.  Shortbow on same gnoll he hit before.

Voran shouts at the gnolls, "FLEE OR BE DESTROYED," he says in a booming voice.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 68):

OOC:

Not sure how I forgot the damage from my shot.

22:00, Today: Elboc Ice Eyes rolled 4 using 1d6+1 ((3)).

The three remaining gnolls skid to a stop after Elboc and Roak drop another of their number.  They turn on their heels and break back the way they came, ignoring their two dead fellows, the one that is paralyzed, and all of the sleeping hyenas as they dash for the horizon.

OOC:
19:08, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 9 using 1d12.  Morale.

Elboc puts his bow away. "We should be on our way in case they bring friends back with them."

"Should we not dispatch these gnolls and their pets first? Or trust the desert sands to do it for us?"

Roak puts his bow back on his back. "I'm getting back to our caravan. Let the sand take 'em, I say." And he does just that!

Voran looks at the creatures. "If you want to put the animals down, that's fine. I will not condone actively killing a helpless sentient, even as savage a one as a gnoll."

He also rejoins the caravan.