As Vilus and Malachi assault its mind and senses, it appears to grow even more frenzied and violent, frothing at the mouth. A slash from Joren's greatsword causes it to rear up and roar in pain. It looks about ready to charge.
Seeing that there appears to be no way to avoid a fight, Malachi tries to prevent the creature's charge. He [spell}Dissonant Whispers;whispers[/spell] almost silently in the cavern, filling the bear’s mind with pain and suffering.
(WIS 14 Save or 13 psychic damage and the bear must use its reaction to move as far as its speed allows away. Half damage and no movement on a save.)
Driven over the edge, the mole-bear staggers back on its hind legs a few steps, and then turns to limp away desperately down one of the far passages, the metal trap clanging with each step. It soon disappears around a corner, the racket continuing. The scent of its blood is thick in the air.
Samir, bolt thrower now in hand, peers forward towards this new sound, wondering what it could possibly be. Should something new show up and appear to be threatening, he'd be quick to take a shot at it. The naked mole bear had set him on edge, as disturbing a scene as it had been.
The rumbling grows closer, now beginning to sound like a multitude of flapping leathery wings. The mole-bear lets out a long roar of pain and can be heard thrashing about, bringing on dozens of high pitched shrieks in response as some struggle seems to take place out of sight.
Joren's echo allows the mole bear to flee from Malachi's spell without attacking once he hears the rumbling.
"Sounding like a multitude of enemies approaching faster than we can run. Finding a bottleneck in these caves we should so that we are having a choke point and not needing to fight them all at once!"
He immediately acts accordingly attempting to find a bottleneck or choke point that is likely to keep the leathery/flapping/rumbling enemies in front and prevent the party from being surrounded. Shepherding the rest of the party into position with his own echo in front, Marion and himself 15' back, and the rest of the party behind that, if they are willing.
Vilus listens and acts according to Joren's plan, whispering low as he moves "try to keep out of sight, if we can surprise whatever is coming we have even more advantage, also heading out to the main tunnel and not dealing with these animals is an option.. I know what I said about having threats from the rear but from the sounds of it, clearing all tunnels just for piece of mind is seeming like it might be an endless task, especially if all deviating tunnels are as populated as this .!?"
Ashley listens as the battle between the beasts happens out of sight, "I'm thinking maybe we head back to the main tunnel? I think we should just focus on getting to Tensmith if possible." She breathes a sigh of relief that the beast left them and waits to see what the rest wants to do, casting mage armor in the meantime.
The sound of the mole-bear's struggles begin to subside, and soon there is simply the wet sound of tearing meat. From around the corner at the far end of the chamber, a bat flutters through the air before landing next a splotch of blood left by the fleeing bear. It crawls forward, sniffing, and follows the trail until it reaches the large puddle in the center, where the party had first seen the wounded bear. It begins lapping away hungrily.
Perception - Hearing: 25
It hesitates after a moment and lifts its head, ears twitching. It swivels its neck to directly face Joren at the head of the group. Blood dripping down its face, it snarls, preparing to let out a shriek.
Joren attempts to forestall the shriek as early as possible by sending his echo to the lone bat and attacking it from the echo's position (lethally this time).
Attack: 17 Damage: 9
All while the party attempts to back out to the main tunnel and/or find a defensible bottleneck, presumably.
The bat doesn't get out so much as a squeak before Joren cuts it down. As the others retreat back down the main tunnel, Malachi notices a point where runes ring the tunnel, carved into the rock. They immediately bear resemblance to the god-tongue used by the cultists, and seem to be pointed out toward the chamber where they encountered the mole-bear.
"keep going, quiet as possible." Vilus retreat with the group making sure everyone is accounted for and once they reach the main tunnel once more he resumes Marching order.
As Vilus and Malachi assault its mind and senses, it appears to grow even more frenzied and violent, frothing at the mouth. A slash from Joren's greatsword causes it to rear up and roar in pain. It looks about ready to charge.
Seeing that there appears to be no way to avoid a fight, Malachi tries to prevent the creature's charge. He [spell}Dissonant Whispers;whispers[/spell] almost silently in the cavern, filling the bear’s mind with pain and suffering.
(WIS 14 Save or 13 psychic damage and the bear must use its reaction to move as far as its speed allows away. Half damage and no movement on a save.)
Driven over the edge, the mole-bear staggers back on its hind legs a few steps, and then turns to limp away desperately down one of the far passages, the metal trap clanging with each step. It soon disappears around a corner, the racket continuing. The scent of its blood is thick in the air.
"Huh... that was... um.. unexpected, Is it going to be a future threat?" Vilus stands up straight after seemingly having taken a fighting stance.
A rumbling sound can be heard in the distance, from the direction the bear fled. This sounds like something... different.
Samir, bolt thrower now in hand, peers forward towards this new sound, wondering what it could possibly be. Should something new show up and appear to be threatening, he'd be quick to take a shot at it. The naked mole bear had set him on edge, as disturbing a scene as it had been.
The rumbling grows closer, now beginning to sound like a multitude of flapping leathery wings. The mole-bear lets out a long roar of pain and can be heard thrashing about, bringing on dozens of high pitched shrieks in response as some struggle seems to take place out of sight.
Joren's echo allows the mole bear to flee from Malachi's spell without attacking once he hears the rumbling.
"Sounding like a multitude of enemies approaching faster than we can run. Finding a bottleneck in these caves we should so that we are having a choke point and not needing to fight them all at once!"
He immediately acts accordingly attempting to find a bottleneck or choke point that is likely to keep the leathery/flapping/rumbling enemies in front and prevent the party from being surrounded. Shepherding the rest of the party into position with his own echo in front, Marion and himself 15' back, and the rest of the party behind that, if they are willing.
Barn(Paladin1):Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4):VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5):Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic system):ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1):Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian (Fighter3):Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia (Sorcerer2):BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1):Culuril's Strixhaven
Vilus listens and acts according to Joren's plan, whispering low as he moves "try to keep out of sight, if we can surprise whatever is coming we have even more advantage, also heading out to the main tunnel and not dealing with these animals is an option.. I know what I said about having threats from the rear but from the sounds of it, clearing all tunnels just for piece of mind is seeming like it might be an endless task, especially if all deviating tunnels are as populated as this .!?"
Ashley listens as the battle between the beasts happens out of sight, "I'm thinking maybe we head back to the main tunnel? I think we should just focus on getting to Tensmith if possible." She breathes a sigh of relief that the beast left them and waits to see what the rest wants to do, casting mage armor in the meantime.
The sound of the mole-bear's struggles begin to subside, and soon there is simply the wet sound of tearing meat. From around the corner at the far end of the chamber, a bat flutters through the air before landing next a splotch of blood left by the fleeing bear. It crawls forward, sniffing, and follows the trail until it reaches the large puddle in the center, where the party had first seen the wounded bear. It begins lapping away hungrily.
Perception - Hearing: 25
It hesitates after a moment and lifts its head, ears twitching. It swivels its neck to directly face Joren at the head of the group. Blood dripping down its face, it snarls, preparing to let out a shriek.
Joren attempts to forestall the shriek as early as possible by sending his echo to the lone bat and attacking it from the echo's position (lethally this time).
Attack: 17 Damage: 9
All while the party attempts to back out to the main tunnel and/or find a defensible bottleneck, presumably.
Barn(Paladin1):Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4):VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5):Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic system):ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1):Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian (Fighter3):Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia (Sorcerer2):BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1):Culuril's Strixhaven
The bat doesn't get out so much as a squeak before Joren cuts it down. As the others retreat back down the main tunnel, Malachi notices a point where runes ring the tunnel, carved into the rock. They immediately bear resemblance to the god-tongue used by the cultists, and seem to be pointed out toward the chamber where they encountered the mole-bear.
"keep going, quiet as possible." Vilus retreat with the group making sure everyone is accounted for and once they reach the main tunnel once more he resumes Marching order.
(Everyone make a stealth and a nature check)
Vilus;
Stealth 18
Nature 5
Joren winces at the clanking of his own armor (and at his own ignorance of nature).
Stealth at disadvantage due to Chain Mail: 9
Nature: 9
Barn(Paladin1):Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4):VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5):Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic system):ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1):Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian (Fighter3):Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia (Sorcerer2):BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1):Culuril's Strixhaven
Ashley:
Stealth 9
Nature 6
Malachi
Stealth: 8.
Nature: 6.
.
Samir
Stealth: 17
Nature: 17