Home for Monsters (Part 4)

You traverse further down into the dungeon, down, down, down. It is another long walk down the curving staircase. You figure you must be at least eighty feet below ground now, and still following a path downwards. There's a door at the end of the path, and a gentle prying proves that there is no lock on the door, or that it is unlocked. As the door swings open you immediately notice that the room is filled with wolves. Big wolves, little wolves, baby wolves. A giant wolf big enough to be four wolves all by itself. All of them peacefully sleeping.

Olav looks around the room from the door for other entrances, exits, etc.

Walery quietly eases the door closed while we discuss this, after people have taken a look around.

There is another door all the way across the room you will note before the door closes.

Olav looks around once Walery closes the door. "Ideas on how to get past them? Steak or something might distract them," he suggests impractically.

Walery says, "Yes, and it will wake them up, too. But I don't think I can sneak past them."

Heinrich waits until the door closes and says, quietly, "Look, I'm not exactly stealthy in all this armor. Unless that wizard's laboratory has a potion of 'Turn-Wolves-into-Docile-Puppies', we'll likely end up having to fight them."

Niara catches up finally moving on silent feet. "Sorry about that. got caught up thought I heard something behind us." she looks at the others.

"Or adopt them," Olav suggests, as he starts checking the hallway for other exits.

Heinrich mutters more to himself than to the others, "You know the problem with dungeons? There's never enough room for my horse."

Walery agrees with Heinrich. "Horses might be useful, we could ride past them, perhaps. How far was the far exit? And was it a door, or just a doorway?"

Olav seems puzzled by Heinrich's non sequitur, but decides not to ask further. "So... if we're going to kill them," he suggests, "maybe some burning oil would be smart?" He seems really unhappy with the idea though.

Heinrich frowns. "That seems pretty brutal. I guess we could just try to get through as fast as possible, without actually trying to take them all out? Just, you know, power past them?"

Olav nods. "Sounds good!" Which it doesn't exactly, but it sounds better than burning puppies.

Heinrich adds, “And a few raw steaks wouldn't hurt our chances, but I happen to be fresh out of them."

Walery nods to Heinrich. "The problem will be if the far door is stuck. Do we come back here, or try to force the door. And do we try and form up around the door for a defensive stand, or just mill around while they maul us?"

Heinrich says, "I say a defensive stand while we jimmy the door."

That's the plan then, and you open the door, ready to burst past the bulk of the wolves and make your way across to the door - hoping that the door isn't locked or otherwise disabled. You make it all of fifteen feet before every wolf is on its feet, eyes on you with that sort of wary hostility that predators could maintain forever. It's the biggest wolf that draws your eyes however. He growls in a low tone that makes your bones vibrate, his fur standing on end and his massive fangs curling down around his jaw. There's no hesitation in him, your motion forward provokes his attack... and the other wolves follow his lead.

GAME: Niara rolls scimitar: aliased to bab+dexterity+1+1+1: (18)+5+5+1+1+1: 31
GAME: Niara rolls scimitar: aliased to bab+dexterity+1+1+1: (15)+5+5+1+1+1: 28
GAME: Niara rolls sccrit+5: aliased to 2d6+dexterity+dexterity+4+1d6+5: (6)+5+5+4+(3)+5: 28
GAME: Olav RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 4 temporary HP
GAME: Olav rolls 1d20+2+3+1+1+2-1: (13)+2+3+1+1+2+-1: 21
GAME: Olav rolls 1d12+4+3+2: (12)+4+3+2: 21

Niara pulls her scimitar, muttering its activation under her breath as lightning crackles along the blade. She turns and whips the blade at a close wolf. The electrified blade cuts deep into the wolf almost cutting it in twain. The remains of the wolf collapse to the ground.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+6: (5)+6: 11
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (10)+2: 12
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (10)+2: 12
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (7)+2: 9

Olav roars in the big wolf's face as he swings his greataxe into its flank.

The wolves attack en-mass, the largest bowling Olav over and knocking him to the ground as teeth sink into the warrior's leg.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (9)+2: 11
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (14)+2: 16

Kaj places his huge hand on Razen's shoulder. "Another time, I shall tell you tales you will not believe, but all of which are true." He pauses for a little while, a forlorn look on his leonine face.

"For now, I must return to the docks. Well met!"

Heinrich takes his chances and heads for the door. Reaching it, he turns and takes a defensive stance, waiting for his comrades, and says, "Come on, guys. I'll cover you." He brandishes his falchion.

GAME: Walery activates his Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Dex
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+10: (2)+10: 12

Walery sighs. So much for planning. At least he's not getting mauled by wolves. That's probably just a matter of time, though. Seeing the big wolf as the greater threat, and the larger target, he flips on his titan armor, switches his death ray to fire, and as he scrambles for the door, he shoots a bolt of raw fire at the huge thing. Moving spoils his aim, though, and he leaves a big scorch mark on the floor.

GAME: Hetzakoatl rolls weapon1: (4)+3: 7
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12
GAME: Niara rolls scimitar: aliased to bab+dexterity+1+1+1: (15)+5+5+1+1+1: 28
GAME: Niara rolls scimitar: aliased to bab+dexterity+1+1+1: (4)+5+5+1+1+1: 17
GAME: Niara rolls sccrit+5: aliased to 2d6+dexterity+dexterity+4+1d6+5: (4)+5+5+4+(4)+5: 27

Hetzakoatl aims a shot to the big wolf's head as she scurries to the door, missing, but also avoiding the bite aimed her way.

Niara deftly avoided being chewed on by wolves and in response takes the head from one. It staggers around before dropping. She looks for her next target.

Olav remains prone, as if stunned by the attack.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (15)+2: 17
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (20)+2: 22
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (16)+2: 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (7)+2: 9
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4

The largest wolf turns savagely on Hetzakoatl, but her deft footing keeps her out of the reach of it's snapping teeth for a second time. There's only one wolf left to attack Niara, and it seems mostly cowed, only snapping it's teeth at her. Meanwhile the wolves that Heinrich evaded seem to have taken it personally, and one of them manages to bring the warrior down with it's teeth around his ankle.

GAME: Heinrich rolls Falchion: aliased to Weapon1: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (10)+2: 12
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (10)+2: 12
GAME: Heinrich rolls FalchionDmg: aliased to 2d4+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+10: (18)+10: 28
GAME: Walery rolls 3d6+5: (8)+5: 13

Heinrich gets not only bitten in the ankle, but amazingly dragged prone by the wolf. With a grunt of mixed annoyance and defiance, the knight slashes at the animal, cutting it good.

Walery acks as the one wolf takes Heinrich down. He was hoping he could get the door open, and Walery will try and help free him of the wolves do that we can get out of here without getting mauled too badly. He shoulders his death ray, cranks a magical thing in a complicated way, and he shoots the wolf with a bolt of fire, leaving a crispy wolf and Heinrich's ankle free once again. The world is saved.

At Walery's distracted effort to get the door open, the thing swings out and a loud hiss can be heard from the other side…

GAME: Hetzakoatl casts Burning Hands. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Hetzakoatl rolls 3d4: (7): 7
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19

After narrowly avoiding being bitten twice, the white-scaled sith stretched forth her hands, and roasts the large wolf in the face with a gout of fire. With the beast dropping moments after.

GAME: Niara rolls scimitar: aliased to bab+dexterity+1+1+1: (17)+5+5+1+1+1: 30
GAME: Niara rolls scimitar: aliased to bab+dexterity+1+1+1: (2)+5+5+1+1+1: 15
GAME: Niara rolls sccrit+5: aliased to 2d6+dexterity+dexterity+4+1d6+5: (7)+5+5+4+(3)+5: 29

Niara whips her blade and another wolf dies.

GAME: Heinrich rolls Falchion: aliased to Weapon1: (18)+8: 26 (THREAT)
GAME: Heinrich rolls Falchion: aliased to Weapon1: (6)+8: 14
GAME: Heinrich rolls FalchionCrit: aliased to 4d4+9: (10)+9: 19

Heinrich takes a final swipe at the last craven cur as it tucks its tail between its legs, denying it the chance to flee.

GAME: Walery rolls perception: (16)+9: 25

Heinrich says, "Doubtless, yonder wolfcubs will need nourishment. Perhaps we should tell a druid." He then turns to the door as well.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (13)+27: 40

A pile of treasure glitters inside the room, gold and gems of all varieties thrown into a massive pile together in the center of the room. There's a door on the other side of the room, but what captivates the attention is that beautiful pile of wealth.

Walery eyes the wealth on the inside of the room, and he says, "Forget the wolfcubs, come see this. It's -got- to be a trap. Or else we're all set for life."

Hetzakoatl shakes her head. "Where iss the thing that hisssed?", she wonders. "When the door opened, there wass a hisss."

GAME: Niara rolls perception: (17)+12: 29

Niara looks around after the words and sees only treasure. She holds back.

GAME: Hetzakoatl rolls will: (15)+4: 19

The hissing in the room becomes louder for a moment, disconcerting in the way it almost seems to make words.

Heinrich looks into the treasure room, and blinks in a moment of astonishment, but says in response to Walery, "Trap maybe, or illusion. My lady mother used to warn me about things looking better than they really are. Don't forget, there's a wily wizard lurking hereabouts."

GAME: Heinrich rolls Perception: (17)+6: 23

Hetzakoatl goes stock still, and cants her head. Her tongue flicks out from between her teeth, and she glances at the others. "It ssaid... come to me.", she rumbles. "It iss a trap, certainly."

GAME: Hetzakoatl rolls perception: (11)+7: 18

Heinrich says, "Doubtless there is much treasure in this dungeon, but I'd still like to know where that wizard is and what he's up to before I let my guard down." He steps back into the wolf room and says, "Why, all those potions and scrolls in the laboratory have got to be worth a small fortune just by themselves."

Hetzakoatl sighs, letting out a long breath. "What is it you want?", she says clearly. The Sith-makar cants her head the other way, listening. <draconic>

-TBC-