Gronk sucks at his gouged knuckle and spits a wad blood on the stony ground. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks, though." He'd almost forgotten about the Yeti claw marks on his upper back- Nic's poultice seems to have done the trick.

"I'm all for a attacking the camp." Gronk adds his vote. Turning back to Jenna, he adds, "If we're going right back into battle against superior numbers, one of those blessing spells you do sure would be nice."

Looking to Nic, Gronk asks, "Got any clever ideas how we're going to do this?"


-
This message was last edited by the player at 00:58, Thu 12 Jan 2017.

"Possibly."  Nicolai scratches his fast-blooming stubble.  "Corros, about how many more are there?  We'll need to be fast.  They'll figure out we took care of these," he gestures at the scattered corpses, "quickly."

"I don't think we can assume any of the slaves will be able to help once we attack.  I'm sure they want to but they're probably on minimal rations.  So we'll take the help if we get it, but we won't count on it.  Though... hmm.  Jenna, could you invoke Arma's favor for them?  Anything that would help keep the gnolls from slaughtering them?"

"And Corros?  How much longer will you be able to fly?  If you can circle around behind their camp and wait until we have their attention before sucker-punching them with witchcraft..."

Jenna's first act is to step over to Nicolai, place a hand on his forearm and whisper a prayer to the Goddess, her eyes turning milky white for several heartbeats as the Warrior's power healing courses through her and into Nicolai, causing the flesh torn by the gnolls and their hyena minions to knit back together. (Nicolai, +7 HP)

The Priestess then looks over to Gronk, fingers the amulet that Brother Jaro had given her. "I can call on Arma to Bless us all when we go in to battle." She turns back to Nicolai. "If I can get close to them I can call on my Spirit Guardians to help me to defend them but I'd need to be more or less right up next to them. I'm not sure if there's anything else I can do for them from a distance."

21:41, Today: Jenna Drax rolled 7 using 1d8+5.  Cure Wounds Level 1.

"Thank you."  Nicolai flexes his formerly-injured limb experimentally.  "All right.  My best thought, which isn't all that good, is that Jenna and I form up on Gronk so we can support each other more easily.  We've just seen that these things will fight like a wolf pack, so anyone who gets isolated and in grabbing distance will get pulled down.  Corros - if you can fly behind them and hit them from an unexpected direction, that will sow confusion.  But only if you can stay aloft."

He shrugs uncomfortably.  "We'll have to hope for the best for the slaves.  If the gnolls decide to start slaughtering them, we'll try to intervene, but we can't do them any good if we're dead because we didn't concentrate on the fight first."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:38, Sun 15 Jan 2017.

The companions, minus Zima and Kerrek (sent to collect the horses), advance up the draw towards the reported gnoll camp. It doesn't take long to make contact again. A large gnoll force comes out to meet them.

Apparently realizing that its pursuit force had fallen afoul of an ambush of some sort, the gnoll chieftain is personally leading out a second, larger war party. The leader of the band is at least a head taller than any of the others, its greasy fur adorned with multiple red-black handprints, a severed hand on a thong around its long, thick neck. It's a flind, an exceptionally large, physically powerful gnoll- an alpha male who leads by virtue of its sheer strength and higher than above average (for a gnoll) intelligence. Hanging from its hand is an impressively crafted flail, perhaps of dwarven make.

Intelligently led, this group of gnolls fights with more tactical acumen. The main body is preceded by skirmishers armed with bows. They stop about 30' from the adventurers and draw their bowstrings. A small pack of hyenas runs ahead of the archers, grunting, laughing, and snapping. The flind hangs back with six warriors armed with assorted melee weapons (mostly spears).

W1 W2 W3 FC W4 W5 W6

    A1 A2 A3 A4

    H1 H2 H3 H4



      N  G  J
          C

Your Turn.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:53, Mon 16 Jan 2017.

The discipline of the gnoll battle line is almost impressive to Corros.  He's not used to creatures using actual tactics to attack him and his allies.  That being said, he's about to mess with their intentions.  He's had enough of being hit with arrows today.  "I'm not evil," he says, standing behind Jenna, Nic, and Gronk.  "But this spell might give you the wrong idea."  With a series of complicated gestures and words in no human tongue, the warlock calls for a pitch black pit of shimmering, writhing, tentacles that reach for the archers.

Corros
55/61 HP, AC 13
Casting Evard's Black Tentacles, 20' area
Creatures who start their turn in the area must save vs str (DC 16) or suffer 3d6 damage and become entrapped.  Creatures moving into the area must save or suffer the same effect.  Entrapped creatures suffer 3d6 per round until they save successfully.

Jenna can sense the power of the Amulet that is worn around her neck, feel it radiating out, almost like a gentle glow, one that though unseen envelops her in Arma's grace, spreads through her, around her, reaching out to caress each of her companions, share the Goddess's blessing and protection. It feels both serene and powerful at the same time.

The Priestess watches as the gnolls approach, growing larger as they come closer. A toss of blonde mane as she hears her lover's words, a smile, for she knows that he is not evil. There's the briefest of joining of minds. She's tempted to let her thoughts drift back to time spent together in Balefyre, time spent alone, in the rooms acquired from Vander. But it is perhaps best that there are no distractions.

And so the link is broken as he begins to speak in unfamiliar tongues. Jenna raises her own hands, her palms upturned, her lips moving in prayer to the Goddess, eyes turning milky white as the air around her begins to shimmers and ghostly figures start to form.

Jenna
AC: 21, HP 51/56
Bless in effect via Medallion
Casting Spirit Guardians (Level 4)

"Uh.  Those are tentacles of inky blackness."  Despite the imminent threat of the gnolls, Nicolai turns his head to look at Jenna.  "You knew about the flying.  He took you flying.  Did you -- um -- never mind.  Let's kill some gnolls," he finishes as the sword-priestess ignores him and begins invoking her own powers.  Tucking himself into the formation, the Ardani raises his blades and prepares to advance at whatever speed Jenna sets.

Nicolai
AC 16; HP 56/61; Superiority Dice 3/4
Move: In conjunction with Jenna, staying within Spirit Guardians AoE
Attacks 1&2: Rapier +1 on first available melee target (attack +7, damage 1d8+4)
Bonus: Help (deflecting incoming attacks to give Corros advantage on Concentration check to maintain his tentacles)

Gronk resists the urge to countercharge the hyenas. Instead, he stays in line with Nic and Jenna, advancing steadily, shield up, morning star poised to deliver destruction.

"Bring it on, bitches!" he shouts, goading the bipedal gnolls and their four-legged kin.


Gronk
AC 19; HP 83/88
Keeping pace with Nic & Jenna
2x attacks on nearest target/s; riposte on tap

-

OOC: The following is a half-turn. Corros' area-effect spell has created a tactical situation that might affect other players actions. Nic, Jenna, and Gronk may take actions in this half of the turn; Corros has already done so.

The Four advance, three abreast in the van, Corros brining up the rear. The warlock's spell takes immediate effect, ensnaring six of the eight gnolls in its area of effect. The monsters struggle against the clubbing, constricting tentacles.
(A1 -12HP, A2 -14HP, A3 -5HP, W3 -14HP, W4 -9HP, W5 -12HP)

The charging hyenas run heedless into Jenna's ring of Spirit Guardians; all four are instantaneously annihilated by the radiant summons (all four hyenas are dead!).

W1 W2 W3 FC W4 W5 W6

    A1 A2 A3 A4



      N  G  J
          C

OOC: The enemies with a strike through them are restrained and will have to waste their actions attempting to escape (or attack at disadvantage). Entering that area is not recommended.


Your Turn.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:32, Wed 18 Jan 2017.

The whimpering of dying hyenas is still echoing in Jenna's ears as she takes a step forward, the ethereal figures of the Spirit Guardians swirling around her as she advances purposefully, knowing that Nicolai and Gronk are with her, Corros a little behind. She can see the tentacles grasping their prey just ahead of them, had purposely chosen to pretend not to hear answer Master Romanelli's question on the subject.

There's a gap between canyon wall and the lead gnolls, one that Jenna judges will allow them to close with the beasts without being caught in the tentacles' clutching grasp themselves and should hopefully allow the Guardians to continue to smite down anything that comes at them. Reaching that spot, Jenna pauses, points extended fingers towards the Gnoll Chieftain, her body trembling visibly as Arma's grace courses through her, more powerful than she has ever known it before, that divine power manifesting itself in a bolt of radiant energy that leaps from her fingertips, streaking in the direction of the Gnoll chief.

Jenna
AC: 21, HP 51/56
Bless in effect via Medallion
Spirit Guardians in effect via Concentration
Advancing in formation / casting Guiding Bolt (Level 4) at Gnoll Chief

Jenna leads the team in skirting the grasping, inky tentacles to launch an attack into the gnoll's left flank. Her Guiding Bolt flies straight and true, striking the huge gnoll chieftan squarely in its hairy chest (FC -20HP; grants advantage until the end of Jenna's next turn).

To the left and a little in front of Jenna, Nic squares off against the leftmost gnoll warrior, wounding it with the second thrust of his rapier (W1 -15HP). The beast hits back, driving the point of its spear into Nic's left bicep (Crit! Nic -7HP). Jenna's Spirit Guardians pass through this gnoll without any effect.

Just to the right of Nic, Gronk delivers two crushing blows to his opponent, permanently felling the creature (W2 -27HP; W2 is dead!).

The Flind wades effortlessly through the magical tentacles, flail lashing out at the nearest threat. The monster runs afoul of Jenna's Spirit Guardians along the way (FC -17HP), but it doesn't seem phased, savagely pressing its attack regardless of the fresh damage. Gronk's Lemnish shield deflects the first blow, and he barely ducks the second. The half-orc delivers a quick counterattack, leaving the gnoll chieftain smarting but still very much in the fight (FC -17HP). The monster's third attack lands squarely between the gladiator's shoulder blades, almost driving Gronk to his knees (Gronk -10HP). He's been hit with flails before- although he senses that he avoided the worst of its power, something about this one tells him that it's no ordinary weapon.

Meanwhile, several of the gnolls ensnared in the mass of writhing tentacles manage to break free. Those that weren't affected are already moving quickly around the spell's area of effect to join the fight.

One of the archers (A4) circles around behind the four and launches two arrows at their backs. The first strikes Corros, but the young warlock manages to keep his concentration on his spell (Corros -6HP; -10' movement). The gnoll wastes his second shot on Jenna, whose armor easily deflects the arrow.

The rightmost gnoll warrior (W6) arcs around behind his trapped confederates and charges Nic with its spear. Fortunately, the point catches nothing but air.

A1 -12HP; freed
A2 -14HP; freed
A3 -5HP; restrained (will take additional damage at the start of its next turn)
A4
W1 -15HP
W2
W3 -14HP; restrained (will take additional damage at the start of its next turn)
W4 -9HP; restrained (will take additional damage at the start of its next turn)
W5 -12HP; freed
W6
GC (Flind) -54HP; granting advantage


Your Turn.

-

When she sees Corros struck by the arrow Jenna's heart immediately screams out at her to strike down the creature that had attacked him, to send it to meet its false God. Flecks of black are staining the milky whiteness of her eyes, the darkness spreading across her irises in a way that eerily mimics the tentacles that the Warlock had unleashed on their enemies.

Logic, though, tells her that they should concentrate on the leader. The afterglow of the Goddess's radiant power is still flickering around it. It is close enough that she can smell its foul reek. Has already lashed out at Gronk. Jenna's eyes go jet black as she lunges forward, her astral protectors by her side, Arma's grace still flowing from the medallion around her neck invoking the Warrior's power and glory as she raises her warhammer above her head, every ounce of her strength in the blow as she tries to strike down the Flind.

Jenna
AC: 21, HP 51/56
Bless in effect via Medallion
Spirit Guardians in effect via Concentration
Melee Combat with Gnoll Chief, Warhammer +1
Using War Priest feature for bonus action (2nd of 5)

"Fucker," Nic hisses as the spearpoint drives deep into his sword arm.  He drops to a knee to avoid another thrust as the snap of a bowstring alerts him to the threat behind the party.  He pivots and lets fly with his dagger toward one of the archers closing on Corros, then spins back to face the spear line as he plucks his spare dagger from his belt.  Following Jenna's lead, he drives for the gnoll leader's flank, hoping to drop the creature and break the enemy line.

Nicolai
AC 16; HP 49/61; Superiority Dice 2/4
Move: As needed to stay in formation
Bonus: Off-hand thrown attack on A2 with dagger +1 (attack +7, damage 1d4+4)
Attacks 1&2: Rapier +1 on flind (attack +7, damage 1d8+4, first successful attack gets +2d6 sneak attack damage)
Option: If the flind goes down, any remaining melee attacks are on W1

Gronk makes contact with the huge gnoll chieftain, the biggest- literally and figuratively- threat on the battlefield. It's an unspoken contract, you or me, to the death; let's do this. Gronk knows that the odds are long; it's going to take everything he's got to survive this duel. Drawing upon his orcish heritage, Gronk calls forth the rage buried deep inside. He swings Spike at the monster's head with all of his might.

Gronk (Raging)
AC 19; 73/88 HP
2x melee attacks: 1st is a Goading Attack v. Flind, 2nd is standard v. same target

-
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Sun 22 Jan 2017.

The gnolls breaking free of the tentacles manage to suddenly tip the balance of power in the skirmish.  Corros snarls in frustration, and starts trying to draw more power from The Library.  A sudden tear in his side causes a dip in his concentration that is answered by a doubling down on the thoughts holding that particular wave of power together.  For once, they might have bitten off more than they can chew.

"Gods," he mutters to no one.

With this left hand holding the seething mass of tentacles in existence, he throws a pair of Eldritch Blasts at the archers struggling free.


Corros
49/61 HP, AC 13
Holding Black Tentacles
One each Eldritch Blasts at A1 and A2.  +8 to attack, d10+5 damage each.

The front rankers concentrate their offense on the gnoll chieftain, piercing and bludgeoning it with a string of powerful attacks- even Jenna's Spirit Guardians join in. The mad beast reels back and falls, overcome by his opponents' collective fury (Nic does 24HP damage, Gronk does 32HP damage, Jenna does 13HP damage, her spell does 18HP damage- the Flind is dead!).

Driven by bloodlust and the desire to avenge their fallen chief, three gnoll spearmen wade through the revolving barrier of Spirit Guardians without any ill effect. Nic is pierced (Nic -4HP), as is Gronk (Crit! Gronk -4HP). Smoke, Jenna's enchanted plate, is proof against her attacker's spear.

Corros turns to face the hunters emerging from the tentacle field. A pair of Eldritch blasts kills a pair of gnolls (A1 -12HP; A1 is dead! A2 -8HP; A2 is dead!), leaving only the archer who'd just feathered him. Although, caught in the shin by Nic's thrown dagger (A4 -5HP), its first shot flies true, striking the young warlock with agonizing force (Crit! Corros -9HP). Somehow, Corros manages not to lose his control of Evard's Black Tentacles- they continue attacking the three entangled gnolls, overcoming one of them (W3 -4HP, A3 -7HP, W4 -16HP; W4 is dead!). The hunter's second arrow misses Corros by a hair's breadth.

Both entangled gnolls break free from the grasping black tentacles, one on the far side of the seething mass, the other just behind the trio of gnolls assailing the party's front rankers.

    N W1
 C  J W5 W3
    G W6                              A3

    A4

Your Turn.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:09, Sun 19 Feb 2017.

Still alive, yeah? Corros observes silently.  The two bolts of magical energy had done their job and dispatched two more of the gnolls.  That still left six.  Corros and his friends are still outnumbered and even with gnoll leader dead, the dogheaded warriors are still fighting like fiends.

The warlock is considering his next move when an arrow shaft embeds itself in his thigh with a wet thump.  Pain lances through his nerves, almost shattering the thought patterns needed to hold the tentacles in place.  He knows a cry escapes his lips, he can't help it.  The wound is painful.

I have something for you too, Corros whispers directly into the mind of the archer who's arrow is in his leg before unleashing two more blasts of magical energy at the creature.


Corros
40/61 HP AC 13
Two Eldritch Blasts at A4, +8 to hit, d10+5 damage

The sounds of the battle are filling Jenna's ears. The whimpering of gnolls as they fall, the clash of speartip against armour as her shield deflects the blow aimed at her. She can feel a dampness on her cheek, blood, not her own. Her spiritual protectors are still flitting around her, swirling ethereal forms, their touch death to those they do not recognise as her friend.

She is face to face with one of the spearmen. She has to jerk her head back to avoid its snapping jaws. Its breath is foul. She can hear Corros cry out directly behind her. Anger courses through her, through every fiber of her being. Her tresses are rippling, moving of their own accord. She wants to kill the gnolls. To kill them all. Every last one of them. Her eyes are pools of pure blackness as she swings her hammer again, Arma's Blessing cutting through the air, its blunt head aimed at the gnoll's skull.

Jenna
AC: 21, HP 51/56
Bless in effect via Medallion
Spirit Guardians in effect via Concentration
Melee Combat with W5, Warhammer +1
Using War Priest feature for bonus action (3rd of 5)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:45, Sun 22 Jan 2017.

Nicolai feels another spearpoint gouge his flesh but it's not the near-crippling blow that the last strike was.  Eventually, enough of these will bring him down.  Not yet, though.  He sidesteps to give Jenna room to swing and unleashes his own flurry of steel on the maddened gnolls.

Nicolai
AC 16; HP 45/61; Superiority Dice 2/4
Attacks 1&2: Rapier +1 on W1 (attack +7, damage 1d8+4)
Bonus: Off-hand attack on W2 with dagger (attack +6, damage 1d4+3)
Special: First successful attack gets +2d6 sneak attack damage
Option: If W1 goes down, switching targets to W5

Gronk's a bit surprised that the Flind is down already, but he doesn't complain- he's still juiced up on rage. The half-orc gladiator turns his full attention to the gnoll berserker now front of him, attempting to smash its dog face in with a big, spiky ball of heavy metal.

Gronk
AC 19; HP 69/88; 1/4 combat superiority dice
Raging melee attack v W6; repeat, if necessary, or switch targets

-

Corros' gift lays the dog-faced archer in the dirt (A4 -22HP; A4 is dead!)

Jenna dispatches her opponent with a mighty hammer blow (W5 -10HP; W5 is dead!)

Gronk's first attack lands, but not hard enough to finish the berserker (W6 -13HP). The monster parries Gronk's second, then cocks its swords to deliver a savage counter.

Nic steps in and puts Touch of Sylk through the berserker's neck, killing it (W6 -9HP; W6 is dead!)

The last two remaining gnolls, both just out of the tentacle field, turn tail and run back towards their camp, leaving the Four masters of the cramped battlefield. Thirteen hyena-headed corpses, nine of the two-legged variety, litter the ground at their feet. Of the weaponry strewn among the bodies, only the Flind's massive flail appears to have any value. The dead war chief wears a Hand of Doom talisman around its thick neck.

The gnoll's camp is about a furlong to the northwest. The Flind likely didn't leave it completely unguarded, and the two escaping gnolls will certainly bring word of their leader's demise.


Your Turn.

-

"Yeah, no," Corros says to the backs of the fleeing gnolls.  His mind gives up on holding the tentacle spell in place, allowing the conjuration to fade into nothing.  Or back where it came.  Running would be tricky with the arrow in his leg and that's why he has spells.  Another pair of Eldritch bolts fly from his hands in the direction of the running archer.  He's had enough of their shit.

Corros
40/61 HP, AC 13
Two bolts at fleeing gnolls
+8 to attack, d10+5 ea

Nicolai has never claimed to be an archer.  He carries a bow when he's in the wilderness, but it's really more in the way of reassurance so he'll have something with which to shoot back.  In this case, though, he's not above shooting backs.

Nicolai
AC 16; HP 45/61; Superiority Dice 2/4
Move: Toward fleeing gnolls to close the range
Bonus: Cunning Action for Dash to further reduce range
Attacks 1&2: Shortbow on fleeing gnolls (attack +6, damage 1d6+3)
This message was last edited by the player at 01:51, Wed 25 Jan 2017.

Jenna pauses long enough to gulp in a lungful of air. There’s an immediate, instinctive thought to go to Corros. She heard him crying out. She knows that he is hurt. And then there’s the desire to kill more Gnolls. The two now trying to flee the field as rapidly as they can. She knows that she will never catch them on foot. But they cannot outrun Arma’s wrath.

The blonde haired Priestess raises her right hand, fingers extended, a ripple coursing through her as a bolt of radiant energy takes form at her fingertips, shoots through the air towards the fleeing beasts. She can sense that it’s not as powerful as the one that struck the Gnoll chief. She is growing weaker, needs to rest, to pray, to regather her strength.

Jenna
AC: 21, HP 51/56
Bless in effect via Medallion
Spirit Guardians in effect via Concentration
Launching Guiding Bolt (Level 2) at fleeing gnolls