Of Tracking and Human Trafficking and Things That Never Die

We did a final(ish) sweep of Axeholm, finding one more odd item, a tripod that Baric says has some reality-distorting magic about it. During this time I had another dark episode; I blacked out for some period of time. Is there a connection to the magic of the item? A reaction to a spell Baric cast? Or was it just a random moment? I long for answers, but none seem forthcoming. I wonder if I can attempt a spell next time I'm in that space. I'm going to try Hunter's Mark on the pool of ooze and hope that it will increase my perception of it.
 
We eventually managed to get the party out and lock up the front gates while Oz and I climbed out The Chimney of Everlasting Length, using the petons that Dash had for protection. We coiled up the rope, took good bearings to ensure we could locate this chimney again, and set off to rescue the interlopers sent off by Harbin fucking Wester.
 
We first examined the dead creatures that were chasing Murland. Nasty, hairless, eyeless creatures. They left a trail easy to follow, which took us down into the valley and up again towards another range of mountains. The trail terminated near a cliff face; I spied a fissure in the wall ahead of us, and noticed as well a faint trail of smoke coming from the right. The trail led us to the right, and we set off in that direction, with me in the lead scouting. We came upon a small encampment, with a fire just gone out, and obvious signs of frequent use. After scoping the place out from a distance, I hid myself in the woods with an eye on the party while they examined the camp, finding little of obvious value, other than a couple of kegs of ale, some of which Dash partook. (Apparently it is a strong ale, or Dash's reputation as a drinker is way overblown, but Baric ended up casting some healing spell on him.) We also found a pile of armor, most notably containing armor previously owned by our quarry.
 
I examined the tracks in the camp and was able to ascertain that the Solomon gang was led off down the single, well-used track, which ended at the cliff face; seemingly they have some apparatus on top of the cliff that allows for a platform to be lowered and raised. It has to be a big fucking platform, because they apparently haul wagons and horses up the cliff in it.
 
Having reached an impasse, we set off to the chasm to explore there and see if there is a route that would lead us to the top of the cliff. Baric was really keen to explore it; as you will see, that doesn't speak well to his judgment. As per usual, I took the lead, scouting the way, using my long-practiced Mask of the Wild to be as sneaky as possible. It was not sneaky enough, as I came upon two trolls, who noticed me at the same time I noticed them. I ran back towards the protection of the party, preparing myself to turn and drop these two from a distance, while our tanky friends engaged them in hand-to-hand combat.
 
It went well overall, though our dwarves seemed a little squishy today. But gradually we were wearing them down, me with my arrows, Baric with his magic sword, Oz and Dash with their various axes and swords and clubs, and Murland trying to distract the enemy through ritualistic self-immolation. At least, that was my best guess as to his intent. Who knows with Mages.
 
Then it stopped going well. First, Baric fell. Hard. Then Dash. But we also felled the enemy. The difference is the trolls apparently don't stay dead, while humans and dwarves do. After re-killing another troll, I rushed in to grab Baric (who was up in the front of battle, which seems unwise in both hindsight and foresight), dragged him out of battle, and dropped a goodberry in him. He then ran straight back into combat and revived Dash. I put an Ensnaring Strike on the creature that was down, hoping that the continual damage would, well, continually damage it to the point where it would stop reviving. The spell worked beautifully and continued to apply damage. It was not enough damage, however, to keep it from coming back again. And again.
 
At some point in the fray, someone in the party started yelling at us to burn the creatures to keep them dead. At first, I figured: I'll keep killing them, and let the others burn them where they lay. But even when burned, the beasts kept coming back. Murland did fish out some oil, and rummaged around for some torches, while Dash proceeded to pull out some torches of his own. Dash was struck down again before he could do much with them, but Baric was there to bring him back for a second time. Murland did manage to light one of the trolls on fire without lighting himself on fire, so that was a positive improvement. I ran into the fray and grabbed a few torches laying at Dash's feet, lit them from the flames still flickering on the downed creature, and shoved them into what I hoped would be the most damaging areas of its body. At the moment, it remains down, and the other is just barely standing. I don't have a lot of faith that it will remain down, and the other keeps regenerating.
 
Oz the untouchable was very touchable today, and while he hasn't fallen yet, he's damn close. I am, once again, deeply concerned about our ability to survive this encounter. I believe I am going to advocate chopping the head off the one on the ground. That seems like it would be hard to come back from. We'll see how that goes.