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Session 0 / Part 3, Gnolls, gnolls, and more gnolls!

Paldegora 

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Session 0 – 2022-11-12

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Ah, the breakfast was excellent. Fried eggs with some bacon along with biscuits and gravy. Now I have the energy I need to continue on with the story. Where was I?…Ah…

Standing on solid ground, looking at two high cliffs with a path leading between them, the company started to feel a little like sitting ducks. Cal-El moved to the northern cliff face with everyone else following close behind. Eryn, a little concerned for the possible rock, or something else, falling from above, held her shield over her head as she looked to the top of the eastern cliff for signs of movement. Cal-El began making his way forward along the cliff wall. X'or was next with Eryn following him and Angelique and then Symon. As they moved between the two cliffs, the path began descending. They continued on as the terrain got steadily worse. More loose rocks above and on the canyon floor. Walking became dangerous, not just for the potential of twisting ones ankle but also for the noise. X'or suggested that any noise may be enough to bring rocks down on their heads. They should be very quiet. At one point, Cal-El tried to move a little faster, and stepped on some loose rocks that squeezed out another rock that shot out a few feet away, creating a clamber of noise and dust. Everyone froze for a moment to let the noise settle and watch for potential trouble. Nothing else happened. 

The path continued as the lowest ridges on either side reduced in height until they were only about 30 feet high. The company continued on slowly again, and though the path had gotten darker, they eventually found some light up-ahead. Cal-El could see movement on a raised ridge ahead. The terrain had changed to something a little less crumbly and a little more stable. They even came across some bushes and underbrush. They used a ridge and some of that brush to hide behind as they spied the creatures moving on the ridge line ahead. They still couldn't make out anything specific. Eryn moved closer, using shadows and more of the ridge to hide behind, and got a much better look at the creatures on the ridge. They were Gnolls. There were four that she could see but the one furthest north seemed to be arguing with someone else, further east and just out of sight. The one furthest west was near a torch and apparently was drowsy. He appeared to be a lookout but wasn't very alert. The other two were by a small campfire. 

The company discussed a plan of attack. X'or would climb the western ridge and wait within striking distance of the drowsy guard. The rest of them would climb the eastern ridge and take up positions across the canyon from the Gnolls. From there, they would fire into the Gnolls while X'or would make his way up behind them and pick them off. It would be a frontal assault with a limited path to the largest of our groups which would give great flanking possibilities to the barbarian. Eryn climbed the eastern wall with no issues. She passed down a rope to the others and assisted them up. Angelique went up next with no issues. Symon tried next but slipped and fell back down. Cal-El helped to break his fall, limiting the damage he took, and then quickly got him moved into the shadows. Everyone else froze as the sleepy guard suddenly perked up at the noise he’d thought he’d heard. He moved further south, came very close to X'or, but not seeing anything in the direction of the eastern ridge, shrugged it off and moved back to his post. Next, they tied off Symon and helped pull him up. Once up, Cal-El used the rope and climbed up easily. He moved to a higher position, above even that ridge, while Eryn, Angelique, and Symon took up positions using nearby bushes for cover. 

Once everyone was in place, the first round of attacks happened. Arrows and sling stones flew at the Gnolls but everyone missed. That's when X'or, using the cover of the attacks from the opposite ridge, ran forward and killed the lookout in one hit. Another round of arrows and sling stones were fired from the eastern ridge at the Gnolls. They had started running forward, over a stone bridge, to engage their attackers. One of them blew a loud horn. The company knew that meant more would be coming very soon. In the next round of attacks, a second Gnoll went down from a couple of arrows followed by X'or's long sword. The Gnolls crossing the bridge threw spears at Cal-El, one crashed into the rocks and broke, another one missed him, and another one grazed him. One of the Gnolls pulled out an ax and headed up the hill to challenge Cal-El directly. Eryn put two arrows in him followed by a sling stone from Angelique. Cal-El managed to take out another Gnoll as the one with the ax approached him from behind. He then dropped his bow and drew his sword and dagger and approached the Gnoll with the ax. He finished it off. A quick search netted 5 gold pieces and 16 copper pieces.

The last remaining Gnoll, lightly injured, fled for his life. He managed to get away. That's when the company heard the horde of creatures coming at them from the south and southeast. The company fled northeast. They came to an area with a big cave opening that was barricaded by a portcullis. There were piles of bones and body parts lying on the ground in front of the portcullis. The Gnolls were coming from the south now and more were coming from a western trail. It sounded like a great many were coming from both directions and it appeared there was nowhere to go but into the cave. The portcullis barring their way forward was a problem. Cal-El quickly looked for some kind of lever to operate it. He found a lever next to the portcullis. He tried to pull it but it was stuck and wouldn't move. X'or moved up and began pulling on it. It did eventually give, but not by opening the portcullis, but instead by breaking the lever. Eryn asked if X'or could pull up the portcullis. X'or reached to try and pull it up, Eryn moved to help and then Cal-El and Angelique. They managed to get it lifted enough that they could all make it through and help X'or hold it so he could get through as well. They let go and it crashed back down.

The company moved deeper into the cave, out of sight, into the darkness, and hid. The Gnolls didn't have the strength to raise the portcullis and were unable to continue the chase. The company moved deeper into the cave. The light faded behind them as the darkness grew before them and eventually, using there elven infravision, only Cal-El and Eryn could see. When no one else could see, they began breaking out some torches and Symon pulled out a piece of phosphorescent moss and cast a light spell on a piece of wood. Cal-El and Eryn moved forward, avoiding the light behind them as it hindered their ability to see in the dark. They went up some little flights of stairs and continued around a westward turn and then back down some stairs. They could hear the sound of rushing water, lots of it. The rest of the company joined them as they entered the next area and found a chamber with a pool on the southern end. In the center of the pool was the swirl of a whirlpool of water, appearing as though it was pouring out through some hole below. Where it could be flowing was anyone's guess. There was a broken stone bridge that went over the pool. The gap in the bridge was about 7 feet across. X'or tied a rope around Eryn so he could pull her back if she missed. She then jumped the gap, cleanly sticking the landing. She felt good about this until the red eyes of many skeletons appeared in front of her, moving her way. She was on the wrong side of the bridge.

Oh, we'd better stop for now. I must go to a meeting of the Adventurers Society. There is discussion about what to do with the…err…hmm. I'd better not say. I wouldn’t want to give anything away. I'll get back to the story as-soon-as I can.

We received 35 xp plus 10% for those that qualified. We each received 1 gold piece and 1 copper piece.

Turn on the recorder.