The gnolls are clearly caught off guard by his sudden attack, especially when he cuts down his intended target.  The others back away, and lob the bottles they'd drawn into the cloud he was standing in, all missing him... but they clearly weren't aiming for him, either.<br/><br/>As they shatter, the ground beneath his feet suddenly becomes loose and shifting, like flowing sand! (it is considered difficult terrain. Acrobatics checks in the area take a –5 penalty. Creatures entering or beginning their turn in the affected area must succeed at a DC 14 Reflex save each round or become entangled until the beginning of their next turn. If they attempt to move while entangled, they must succeed at a second Reflex save or fall prone.)