(Yeah, just had a busy few days, posting soon)

Map:

 The party creeps in, Chakka near the front and Ruthmum taking the back. As you creep around the shoddily emplaced barriers the cave opens up before you, with three separate directions. To the West, what seems to be some sort of larder, full of fresh humanoid corpses, food, and other assorted junk such as firewood and makeshift or salvaged weaponry scattered about. To the North, several cages covered in blood, old and new, and the corner of some sort of altar visible. The rest is out of view. To the East, a sleeping area, full of moth-bitten mats, human bones, and over a dozen sleeping gnolls.

Additionally, those who rolled above a 13 in Perception notice that the bones strung over each of these passages seem to be rigged in such a way as to cause noise when touched, and will require a successful acrobatics check to avoid. Those who rolled over a 16 notice something... concerning, to say the least. There are noises coming from the two pits here. Like the breathing of something large.

Olan holds up a hand, signalling for everybody to stop moving. He very carefully moves to join Veldruk, avoiding the alarm strings.

"I'm beginning to think that retreat may be advisable. We're outnumbered at least 2 to 1, and taking darkness in to account it's more like 3 to 1. And that's not counting whatever is in those pits."

"If we had something explosive that could take out the gnolls, we 'd be ok, but for now I think we need to fall back and re-group."

He entered the cave with sword in hand, hoping to find no light to be reflected on it. The view of the den was far from encouraging, though he was unfazed by the humanoid remains.  It was the sounds from the pits that made him worried. How large did the things in there need to be for him to be able to hear their breathing? When Olan approached Veldruk felt as if his thoughts had gained voice.

“If we can get close enough of the sleep beauties, we can probably dispatch them as easily as we did with the hyenas. The problem is if even one notices, awakens…” The warlock said looking  to the others. “Could you get closer to the dens without being notice? See what's inside and if it can jumps on us?” His eyes turned to the rogue. “If it's too risk, then I second the retreat and regroup.”

Once again Veldruk turned to the other companions, waiting for their opinions, their votes, so to speak. To follow the majority consensus, he had learned, was quite the way to avoid conflict – the last thing any of them could want there, in enemy territory and outnumbered. Truth be told, even their little strategy meeting could be too much of a luxury.

Notes: Considering how attacking the sleeping hyenas worked (advantage and critical) there is a chance we can finish the gnolls before they awaken or at least trim their numbers considerably before escaping. The thing is if the creatures on the den would notice/alarm them or jump and the party. Should we just retreat or do we try having Olan scouting first?

"I can try. Everybody else, stay where you are, and try to stay still."

Olan slowly and carefully approaches the pits, taking care not to do anything that could raise an alert.

Stealth 25.

Reaching the edge he carefully peers down into the depths.

Perception 24

Added a nature throw to see if I can identify what I see. 15

     Nodjeim stands still as a corpse and waits as instructed.  The darkness was indeed a burden to him and it would make a battle more difficult... But there are ways to change that.  Lights can be lit... But that is a point to be made after Olan finishes his task, he supposes.

Quote from Makkiu >>

Notes: Considering how attacking the sleeping hyenas worked (advantage and critical) there is a chance we can finish the gnolls before they awaken or at least trim their numbers considerably before escaping. The thing is if the creatures on the den would notice/alarm them or jump and the party. Should we just retreat or do we try having Olan scouting first?

 (The hyenas would be killed in a single hit by anyone with a modifier of more than 4. The gnolls, however, are much, much tankier.)

Olan approaches the edge of the pit, and gazes within. At the bottom, there is curled a massive gnoll, the size of the ogre you saw before, though possessed of a classic gnollish emaciation. Keratinous or bony spikes curl from its flesh, which is covered in black, mangy hair. This is nothing Olan or anyone else here has ever heard of before.

Olan carefully makes his way back to the others.

"So, there's something in there, but what, I don't know. What I do know is that I'd prefer not to fight it in the dark, or in here."

"Think of a gnoll the size of an ogre, with spikes all over."

Evelyn followed the others tentatively into dark mouth of the cave. She brought up the rear and had a hand out, lightly touching the person's back in front of her, just so that she wouldn't walk directly into a pit or something. She couldn't really see much inside the cave, but she heard what sounded like the breathing of some giant beast slumbering beneath their feet. She shuddered in horror. When Olan mentioned retreat, she nodded vigorously.

The wizard cleared her throat quietly and whispered, "I vote we go. It's too dangerous, and I'm blind as a bat. I'm afraid I won't be much of much use in here."

At Olan's description, Evelyn's eyes go wide. "What sort of monstrosity..." she mutters. "What is going on here?"

“I share your thoughts.” He said to both Olan and Evelyn. Lighting could always be changed, but the same could not be said of the size of the creatures in the pits. That meant muscle, fat, probably tough skin. Things that the warlock was sure would make it nigh impossible to dispatch them quickly. Add to that the regular gnolls and the numerical disadvantage and any attempt to fight would be suicide. “Everyone’s fine with getting the Hells out here?”

He made his question thinking on that of the wizard. There was an altar back there, amidst blood and bone. Veldruk knew a thing or two about the kind of god that received such offerings. In the Underdark drow whispered about Lolth cursing and transforming those who displeased her. Lycanthropy was both maledection and metamorphosis. Maybe the larger monsters were born from the will of a perverse deity. Living weapons called forth through vile prayer. Auntie? She was the one who crowned the apparent chieftain of the hyenas. The big evil, in the words of their ogre not quite friend.  Either way, he decided, best not discuss this here. Time was sure to turn against them and one never knows when a foul spirit is hearing. Much less one who answer monsters.

     Nodjeim was reluctant but thought it probably best to retreat...  "Lead on," he says softly.

Ruthmum mutters, "Per'aps yer right, but I assure ye, I'm intent on wipin' these gnolls out, be it tonight or th' morrow. I wit a rest may be good, I've spent a few spells."

(What's the plan? Are you all just resting a ways away from the camp?)

"We should head out and regroup away from the camp. My creativity is ebbing, and I feel my magic is weak." Threla suggests "After that, I suggest we make a plan, possibly involving lureing the gnolls out of their cave one by. They do enjoy a tasty bird" She casts Minor Illusion, summoning a small, silent chicken, which follows the party out of the cave a they make their way back towards.

As Threla looks at her magical creation, her mouth begins to water, then she snaps out of it. Hells, this curse is really affecting me. I need to gain control of myself

"I suggest we find somewhere with a good vantage point, and a safe route out if needed. I don't need to recharge any spells or other abilities, so I can keep watch for a while."

“I like your suggestion.” He answered Olan as they left the cave. “I’ll take the first watch with you.” His eyes were as good in the dark as those of a devil, besides the two of them seemed to work rather well. It was likely that together they would spot any enemy approaching before the rest of the group could be at risk. “Threla, you change with me after four hours.”

By that point she should be entirely rested. Veldruk couldn’t know if she too could see through magical darkness but was sure she could see as far as he did. Too great of an advantage to abandon during watch.

“A number of gnolls should take guard in place of his fallen companions. That will divide their numbers further, allow us to hit hard.” Provided they don’t get reinforcements, said the voice of his mind. “Ruthmum, you casted a spell that made me move faster. Would you happen to know spells make enemies move slower?”

That way they could use the narrower paths through the hills as chokepoints, if necessary. Wort-case scenario, it should make running away easier. Then, with their skins safe, they could move into the closest city, warn its garrison and gain some coin in the process. It felt too good to be true.

"I can pull something o' the sort out, if need be."

(If everyone's fine with it, you can begin a long rest a ways away from the gnoll encampment!)

Yup, it seems to be the plan,

Threla nods in ascent to Veldruk's proposed watch plan, and starts to bed down, listening to the conversation between Ruthmum and Veldruk.

As she drifts off to sleep, thoughts race through her mind This curse seems to be getting worse. I hope I can hold out until we can seek medical help back in a city.

     Nodjeim agrees well enough to getting a good rest in as well as pulling a duty on watch when needed.  He himself is beyond actual sleep but he does find four or so hours of calm meditation to be quite refreshing.  Still, it is difficult to find his calm.  He finds his eyes returning again and again to his "cursed" allies and wondering what, if anything, can be done for them.  Perhaps more importantly, how reliable an ally they are and when their new natures will take control...

OOC: Veldruk will help Olan with the perception check.

Evelyn agrees to resting away from the cave. She is grateful that Threla and Veldruk don't seem to mind taking the watches. With her human eyes she wouldn't be able to see much in the darkness, even with a torch or fire burning. Instead she gratefully prepares her bedroll and snuggles down deeply into it, pulling the blanket close to her face. It takes her longer than usual to fall asleep. Try as she might not to, she can't help but imagine herself transforming into a cackling hyena beast. The wizard tries to calm herself with deep breathing exercises, and soon enough they carry her away into the realm of dreams.