Head of the Snake

The onslaught had ended. They were aliv3e along with one of the Xvart guard. Healing was required and performed as best possible when a runner arrived requesting the group return to Rill to meet with Marfek. Off the ran at best pace entering Rill to meet with the leader. They were met by the sight of a huge throng of Xvarts gathered around the central meeting hall. The crowd parted clearing a path for them to enter where they saw Marfek on the dais with 30 or 40 elegantly and ornately dressed Xvarts in the seating area. Marfek was aware another attack was coming. The one they just stopped afforded them time to gather forces and prepare, but it was coming. Marfek asked if the group would be willing to assist again. They agreed as Marfek laid out the plan. The Xvarts would meet the massive horde of Gnolls head on as best they could and the group would use a guide to lead them around the forces allowing them to sneak in to the central camp of the Gnoll leadership, hopefully enabling a sneak attack where they could eliminate it. The group agreed and asked if the Xvarts could spare any of their special sleep poison to aid their mission and Marfek obliged. They did not have a lot to spare but each missile weapon wielder was given one vial. They also asked for oil vials and every member was provided 2. The group now needed to prepare and the spell casters found quiet space to re study and pray to replenish. Unfortunately it came to pass they only had about 75 minutes before the approaching army was spotted and their session interrupted. With that notice the party groups up, met with their guide and headed out as quickly as possible.

They found their way out of the forest to provide as much space as they could get and headed west along the trees. After covering the ground the guide led them back in to the forest heading foir the central encampment some 10 miles in. The forest was relatively new growth. There were a lot of trees, many of which were still rather thin at the trunk but there was a lot of them cluttering the area. About halfway there they spotted a patrol coming towards them through the trees and their cautious approach afforded them surprise so they laid in wait. When they sprung the trap Gwyn was first to strike with a Spiritual Whip knocking his target from his feet. But Rennala loosed her first arrow in to the back of Jack as Tyrade dropped the first Gnoll using a sleep arrow. Rennala�s second attempt killed the first of the patrol as Jack�s shot put another to sleep. The poison provided by the Xvarts was proving quite useful.

The gnoll patrol broke ranks and charged at whomever they could see as Kenny dropped yet another with a sleep poison coated arrow. Jack and Tyrade followed with kills number 2 and 3 and Gwyn scored number 4. Furion completed the kills with a massive critical strike using his dwarven long sword. With that all the gnolls were either dead or poisoned to sleep. That condition was quickly changed to dead by Ben. The group gathered up the bodies, dragging them away from the patrol path. They were hidden under piles of leaves laying on the forest floor while all signs of the battle were covered to hopefully eliminate any signs of the encounter. With that task accomplished they continued on towards the command post. Not long from then the group could hear faint sounds of the large army of gnolls heading east, away from them. The sounds diminished as they moved along confirming they should have an open path ahead.

Having found their way the group spotted erected stone walls surrounding what was likely the command post through the thickening trees. Grouping up to determine an approach plan the first step was a Detect Snares and Pits from Morgana. There were sounds of activity heard from behind the walls so up a tree went Furion in an attempt to sneak a look inside from above. He spotted tents, a fire and one Flind loitering in the camp. Knowing some of what was behind the walls a plan was hatched to sneak up to the wall, use a Stone Shape to create an opening and assault the camp from the rear, where they assumed the leadership would be. Several members were in metal armor. The clanging was too loud for their purpose. Gwyn quickly noted his problem and use a a Silence 15' Radius to eliminate the noise he was making. Jack was not so fortunate and made more noise than he wanted but they were able to approach the walls without raising any alarms. Now at the wall they prepared to breach. Tyrade prepped with a Protection from Normal Missiles, Morgana cast her second Detect Snares and Pits. Kenny put Silence on Jack to cover he and Gwyn. All that done, Morgana stepped up to Stone Shape the wall breach. But ot was not to be as the spell sputtered and failed. Now was the time for plan B.

Up and over the wall it needed to be. An Earthsilk rope from Morgana was prepped with climbing knots and carried over the top by Furion and Tyrade who were able to quickly and quietly surmount the wall. Once over they found themselves in an area somewhat concealed from the remainder of the camp by the way the tents were arranged and the trees placed. The rope was tied to one of the trees as a base and the group climbed one by one, finding their way in to personal hiding spaces. First Rennala, followed by Ben, Jade, Morgana, Kenny and Gwyn. As Jack made his way the sound of his armor was heard by the flind. He called out a question and the group went quiet. But the flind followed calling out the alarm "We've got company!" Jade tried to cast a Shield but it failed. Furion followed with an unsuccessful attempt to slash the ropes securing the tent, dropping his sword. The first success was a Prayer spell from Gwyn.

The flinds charged the source of the breach, racing directly in to the line of fire. Tyrade dropped the first with a sleep arrow while Rennala's target withstood the poison. The alarm raised a shaman emerged from one of the tents. His first act was an Entangle that caught Kenny, Gwyn, Rennala and Ben while slowing a few others. Tyrade and Rennala continued to fire arrows sleeping two more. Kenny tried to free himself from the Entangle with a Dispel Magic but all he succeeded in doing was removing the Prayer effect from himself. The next volley from Tyrade, Rennala and Jade all scored hits but failed to sleep the foes. The next volley from Tyrade and Jade scored kills, Jade's arrow tearing through her target in brutal fashion. Morgana turned her attention to the shaman loosing a Hailstone at it. The shaman responded with a Snapdragon covering the area in coordination with the previous Entangle. This spell animated all the plants, leaves and flowers to attack anything in the radius of effect. Jack was doused in Pollen from the enchanted flowers becoming disabled by coughing and sneezing.

The next volley hit a number of targets but only Rennala's was successful in sleeping her target. Morgana used a Thorn Throw to cover a swath of targets, finishing off 4, leaving 2 at the precipice. Furion had slipped away from the fracas, sneaking around the tents and finally reached his target. The shaman. He struck hard with two attacks and the shaman dropped with Tyrade's next volley. The Snapdragon spell cast by the shaman continued attacking the group. But a new threat revealed itself as spears emerged through the tent canvas, missing Morgana. The spears were wielded by ogres. Morgana attempted to set the tent on fire using a Flame Finger but the canvas would not ignite. Now Furion was engage with several of the gnolls that had charged in from the entry path. His first attack dispatched one as he was struck by the battle axe wielded by the second, who was quickly killed by his second attack.

The party was taking heavy damage all around from the various sources. Gwyn used a Cure spell on Kenny to keep him upright. Just in time as Kenny and Gwyn were struck by the flower pollen and incapacitated. Tyrade fired his first shot at an ogre who resisted the sleep poison. His brother, standing over the shaman, issued a coup d'grace to ensure it would not rise up again. One of the ogres was much larger than the others and it closed in on Jade who fired a sleep arrow only to see no effect. Morgana, cornered behind one of the tents by the onrushing gnolls cast a Summon Insects to attack one. The spell worked perfectly, swarming the target who turned and raced away trying to flee from the bugs. This she followed with a Thunderclap stunning one and disabling two others. But the remaining gnoll, slowed but not stopped, struck with his axe stunning Morgana. Furion had now raced around the tents to cut off the enemy escape route. He dropped his swords to free his hands as Jade let fly a closing shot on the big ogre.

The leader of the Gnolls now emerged from his tent. It was a huge Flind by any measure. He wielded some type of two sectioned bar staff and used it to attack Tyrade. Furion cast an Icy Missile on this target to aid his brother. Rennala dropped one of the big ogres with her next shot, clearing more space as Tyrade was surprisingly hit by a Magic Missile. Not once but twice. The source was an ogre emerging from the tent using a wand. Jade, now engaged by the large ogre used an Aganaver' Scorcher on him as the head flind critically struck Tyrade, disabling his left knee and dropping him to the ground. Furion responded with a Magic Missile on the flind leader and was greeted by Magic Missiles from the wand bearer. Now burning, Jade tried to hit her Ogre target with an oil flask only to see it fly by her target. But Rennala put one of the ogres down with a successful sleep arrow and Tyrade, with a little space, quaffed a healing potion to restore the use of his leg as Furion cast another Magic Missile on the leader who absorbed the hit but began to teeter. Kenny struck with a Spiritual Whip on the ogre who was also now on the edge. But Jade would be the next one to drop as the Ogre scored a spear hit on her.

Rennala finished off the last gnoll with an arrow. Morgana applied a Cure to Tyrade to restore a good portion of his health. Kenny destroyed the big ogre with a Spiritual Whip. That left the wand wielding ogre and the flind leader. Furion, engaged with the ogre, disappeared using an Invisibility spell. Tyrade, now up, finished off the leader with a Magic Missile as Rennala and Furion attacked and killed the last ogre. The camp was now quiet.

The party searched the area finding a chest containing maps, one of which detailed possible attack plans against the McMurtry farm, and gold in the leaders' tent. They retrieved the wand and what appeared to be magical spear and flind bar used by the leaders. They also spotted what looked to be some form of magic ring on the shaman. They cut off the finger and took the ring and beat feet out of the area. They made quick time back out of the forest and headed east. They decided to loop around and reenter Rill from the east side hoping to avoid any combat in action. They arrived as the Xvarts were returning from the battle having defended their territory but at great cost. The group offered what healing they had and whatever assistance they could muster assisting in the recovery and transportation of a great number of the Xvart army. The encounters completed, the gnolls on the run, the group met with Marfek. They discussed the future. Marfek asked for 3 things. Keep Rill off their maps. Allow them to help and trade with the McMurtry Farm. Help them recover their king, Parfek. The group agreed to all the requests and agreed to take this news back to SD for a final consent. Marfek was a bit taken aback by this, offering their might be some problem there as the Xvarts and SD had some long ago history. Tyrade offered to broach that topic and represent the matter with SD.

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