Session 41: The slaughter before disaster

[istainion]

               

CHARACTER: Graelor "Blight" Swiftbreeze  
CLASS: Fighter LVL: 04
LVL PROGRESS: Unknown
 

Day 80: Insect repellent 60 -> 59, incense 10/10 (Streth 0) (same day)
NOTE: Obtained feather (Rathyn)

And so, I moved closer and sneaked a little peek inside the cave. I witnessed four Terrorfolk of fragile health. They were working on totems built from humanoid skulls and bones. Ah, what a joyful task to kill time at this lovely hour. They seemed not only of fragile health; these appeared to be old as well. I could hear the coughing echoing through the air.

We cannot risk getting caught, not even by these guys, so we gathered near the entrance at the sign of a signal. We ambushed these Terrorfolk. I'm sure they had a story to tell, but we didn't have a life we could afford to lose here! Quick work was made; the four fell to the ground next to their totems. Their attempt to yell for help was silenced by the fast, combined strikes of Jasper, Taban, and Shago.

There was another route to take, and we could hear muffled noises. Both Rathyn and I took a look and found a tied-up Aarakocra scout. His name was Neshyr, who revealed himself as an ally from Sir Kabal. Sir Kabal is one of our destinations; this is going to be helpful.

He told us that he was taken captive in an attempt to scout the surroundings. We released him from his bindings, and he promised to leave a good word for us with the Priestess Asharra in Sir Kabal, a location to which he will return. He also gave us some intel about the top of FireFinger. He witnessed eight Terrorfolk in top condition; there could be more, however. The moment they take flight, they will instill a primal fear in their enemies. Inside the structure, he said, they keep their treasures. They are arrogant and expect no one to come, which is an optimal time for an unexpected attack.

Neshyr left us, and we gathered to come up with a strategy.

At the location where we found Neshyr, there is yet another vertical tunnel of 50 ft up; this is one way to get to the top. The cave we are in is 10 ft tall. This would restrict the Terrorfolk from flying and could be used as a strategic position to take them on, one after another. Jasper scouted the surroundings and confirmed the position of each of them. Near the tunnel, there is a small group of Terrorfolk, minding their own business. As for the rest, they are all distracted. A few are near the chests, and the chests appear secured. Jasper also confirmed that the air current is much more controlled at the top, likely a magical effect of the flame, so perhaps climbing our way up the mountain will keep us secure from the wind, not our failures.

Our current plan is to have Jasper shoot an arrow up from the tunnel with a satchel of "boomdust." This satchel will be shot by Smuck's fire bolt and cause an explosion and hopefully catch the group near the tunnel in the impact. The plan is to observe their reaction: if there is none, we will head up; if they enter the tunnel, the explosive traps we set up will activate, one after another. If we head up and get overwhelmed by their forces, we will disengage into the tunnel and activate the traps when they follow.

Man, I'm so nervous, and Azaka won't even be watching how cool I look!