Enko signals Tavi and Jaiyana to halt and points down the hall, miming talking and then counting to three or four on his hand. He then raises a finger to his lips.
Stealth
Night brings a deadly stillness to Westcrown, and the faint but odd sounds of the tunnels even seem hushed, as though not wanting to attract the attention of the unknown terrors that lurk in the night. Our small group of heroes struggle on, splitting now into two groups. One group faces a virtual wall of near-mindless oozes, hungry for anything they can find. The other, the first stirrings of an angry goblins nest, grieving over the loss of so many, wanting vengeance for the dead, and bringing reinforcements. Behind it all, the Hellknights continue to wander the already-dangerous sewers, eager to prove their mettle against a ragtag bunch of rebels.
Corneleous keeps the stone at the very edge of the spells range to ensure the near edge of oozes doesn't see you. Even so, several of the slower oozes sense your movement and begin crawling your way.
The others have been gone for three and a half minutes at this point.
Tavi just BARELY hears some soft padded footfalls, as well as some faint sloshing, headed quietly in your direction. You've been gone from the others approximately three and a half minutes.
Enko:
Tavi:
Jaiyana:
Tavi loosens the tie of her bag of caltrops and quietly sprinkles them on the floor in front of her, then backs away and readies for an attack once something comes in range.
AC whips out his book and looks something up.
Know Nature:
Telepathic Sensitivity: Torbles are receptive to the thought-energy of telepathic minds. A creature with the telepathy special ability can use a swift action to mentally command one torble per point of Charisma bonus for one round, twice that many by using a move action, or four times that many by using a standard action. The creature’s control of the vermin is limited to simple commands (“attack,” “defend,” “stop,” and so forth); orders to attack a certain creature when it appears or guard against a particular occurrence are too complex for the vermin to understand. Torbles that leave the range of the creature’s telepathy immediately revert to their standard behavior.
Enko shutters the bullseye lantern to prevent light from escaping and waits for the goblins to run into the caltrops, taking a flanking position on the opposite side of Tavi (i.e. if she's on the left hand side of the passage, he'll take the right.)
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My friends, if you could attend to the stragglers, I would appreciate it. I cannot act- I must maintain this spell, and it taxes me fully. I have nearly exhausted myself. Having used his allotment of spells for the day has made the Viscount weary. You can see him strain to hold the spell, as if it were heavy than a mighty weight. Yet through his grimace, you can see a strange light in his eye- as if the energy flowing through his frame is also a strong narcotic.
After Tavi heard the initial sounds of stealthy goblins, there had been no further sounds for several moments. The lantern gets completely shuttered by Enko, plunging the tunnel into total darkness. Each of you ready yourselves a few feet behind the caltrops. The sewer channel runs along against the right side of the tunnel. Tavi stands behind the spilled contents of her last caltrops bag and waits for the goblins to run into them. Enko stands to her right, the space in front of him not covered in caltrops, and readies himself to attack. Jaiyana, standing just behind Enko, quietly dons her armored coat and stands holding her flail in the darkness, waiting.
Suddenly three attackers erupt from the sewage to Enko's right, two swinging at Enko, and the third hacking at Jaiyana. Out in front of Enko a fourth thing charges in past the caltrops, dogslicers swinging.
The attacks are quick and vicious, but Jaiyana manage to avoid the strike against her, the blow glancing off her armored coat. Enko, despite being effectively blind, manages to dodge three of the four blades swung at him. But one does slip through and slices through his side.
Go ahead and give me your spoilered combat actions.
INIT:
Jaiyana
Tavi
Enko
'Attackers'
Perception
G:
Enko:
Tavi:
Jaiyana:
Sn G:
Attacks
Goblin 1:,. Dam +
Goblin 2:,. Dam +. Crit Conf. Miss
Goblin 3:,. Dam +
Goblin 4: Moves to Enko, no attack. //,
Darkness (blind) Conditions: No Dex Bonus, -2 AC, 50% Miss Chance.
Enko: AC 11
Tavi: AC 13
Jaiyana: AC 12
Init
Goblin s:
Enko:
Tavi:
Jaiyana:
Fixed the map link... I believe :).
Enko flips the lantern open and hooks a foot at the leg of the goblin directly west of him.
Trip, Fighting Defensively. AC back up to 20 as we are not flat footed anymore, and now sighted.
Hold for Enko to open the light -
Attack the goblin I can without moving -
Should we stay here, or go back? They have been gone for a while. I have no wish to fight these things. They do have a telepathic mind, that they use to communicate with each other. It is very, very, basic.
Can anyone charm animals such as these? or use a telepathic link?
Things are happening in the dark sewers, both groups far from each other and unable to communicate, but each dealing with their own unique problems. One group is having some success with a veritable wall of mindless ooze. The others, hiding in the dark from native denizens of the sewers. Things certainly are happening...
As Corneleous continues to maintain his spell, the bright stone floating slowly above the oozes, the conjurer visibly straining at the effort of mind and will. He is making progress however, the swarm is moving back down the tunnel and it's only a matter of time before a side tunnel becomes available to divert them too. AC contributes his extensive knowledge to the dilema, giving some helpful insights to the oozes, and Amon happily emerges from the rubble pile with a light, wide board with the intent to brush the oozes back and away. Lucon waits with raised foot for the nearest of the few oozes coming back towards them.
As the three oozes sense you, they come after you, movements speeding up a little at the prospect of something edible. Amon uses his board to great effect, knocking the ooze confronting him into the sewage channel, where it drift downstream a ways, emerging much closer to the bright floating stone, where it gets distracted by it and joins the bulk of it's fellows. Corneleous is forced to quick step it to the side to avoid the one coming after him, dodging it easily, but unable to continue his forward motion, thus stalling the entire swarm as the stone above them also stops it's forward motion. Lucon's method is a bit more direct, stomping down with a heavy boot onto the tiny ooze. As with the others, the ooze expolodes violently under the boot, but some of it's internal liquid does spash onto Lucons shin, causing the skin to bubble and smoke briefly but painfully.
Something else happens as the ooze is destroyed. The entire swarm of hundred and hundred of oozes stops almost immediately, a dull red hue coming over their until-now transluscent bodies. They seem to be... waiting, or possibly listening for something, quivering in silence for the space of several heartbeats, before their skin returns back to their colorless state and they continue to crawl after the floating stone. There is still an ooze near Corneleous's feet, continuing after him.
Jaiyana hesitates for moment after feeling a blade skip across her armored jacket, startled by the sudden and unexpected attack, and unsure how to best retaliate in the darkness. She waits, hoping Enko will open the lantern. Tavi, hearing the battle, but seeing nothing, waits as well.
Enko flips the lantern open and light floods the area. The monk then hooks a foot at the leg of the goblin directly west of him, causing it to sprawl into a heap on the ground, almost falling back into the sewage channel.
Jaiyana, seeing the light from the lantern, moves 5' and swings at the goblin to the side of her, the flail passing harmlessly past the small creature.
Tavi also swings at the goblin in front of Enko with her dagger, but it dodges her attack with ease, grinning evily.
Goblin 1 - The goblin in front of Enko swings wildy with both blades, easily dodged by Enko.
Goblin 2 - After a maniacle scream about vengence, this goblin also attacks the monk, blades whistling harmlessly through the air.
Goblin 3 (tripped) Saliva drips from this goblins mouth as it rises quickly to it's feet. Enko's fist catches it right under the chin, snapping it's head violently back before it catches its balance.
Goblin 4 (1 blade, next to Jaiyana) Swings hard at the Ranger, but her armor is more than enough, and the knife glances off once again.
New Init:
Enko
Jaiyana
Tavi
Goblins!
'Attackers'
Goblin 1 Attack:, . Dam: ,
Goblin 2 Attack:, . Dam: ,
Goblin 3 Attack:, . Dam: ,
Goblin 4 Attack:. Dam:
AoO: att. dam.
I would suggest that we not kill any more. As I mentioned previously, they share a basic telepathic link, that can sense when one is in pain or dying.
AC readies to "golf" the bug into the sewage "river" using a nearby board, hoping that will carry the curious little creature away to threaten something else.
Stopping at the intersection you need to decide which way to go, and which tunnel to dump the oozes. The oozes, for their part, happily crawl over each other to get to the floating stone, Corneleous perhaps having some fun by allowing the stack of ooze to get high and then lead a whole bunch of them into the sewage. Each of you can roll me a perception check to find the correct path, the DC is 20. You've now been separated from the others for about 5 and a half minutes and wouldn't expect them back for another minute or two.
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The Viscount does his best to move the stone in lazy circles, collecting the strays and driving the pile to higher peaks. Just when it reaches maximum altitude (and perched at the edge of the flowing sludgy water), he twirls the stone over the edge, hoping that the top ones will slide into the water, and the furthest edge will lemming their brothers in.
Attack (with flanking if possible)
Round 1 -
Hit -
Dam -
Round 2 -
Hit -
Dam -
Round 3 -
Hit -
Dam -
Round 4 -
Hit -
Dam -
Round 5 -
Hit -
Dam -
Perception
"Which way?" the man asks. "Can anyone help me spot it?"
EDIT: I TOTALLY SAW THAT STUFF!!!
Coming soon!
'Attackers'
Goblin 1 Attack:, . Dam: ,
Goblin 2 Attack:, . Dam: ,
Goblin 3 Attack:, . Dam: ,
Goblin 4 Attack:. Dam:
Enko Attack2:. Dam:
Enko Attack3:. Dam: Confirm:
Enko Attack4:. Dam:
Enko Attack5:. Dam: Confirm:
Enko Attack6:. Dam:
AoO1: att. dam.
AoO2: att. dam.
AoO3: att. dam.
Enko
Jaiyana
Tavi
Goblin 1
Goblin 2
Goblin 3 6/9hp
Goblin 4
Round 2:
Enko 5/8hp Attacks but misses.
Jaiyana blasts #4 in the shoulder with her flail, bones breaking, but the goblin still stands.
Tavi Swings hard with her knife, cutting #1 visciously across it's chest.
Goblin 1 5/9hp misses
Goblin 2 misses
Goblin 3 6/9hp misses
Goblin 4 screams in fear and tries desparately to get away from the powerful Ranger. But Jaiyana is too quick to allow this one to get away, and takes a might swing at it's retreating back before it can jump into the sewer. The flail smashes the other shoulder, to the sound of more breaking bones, and the goblin crumples and lies still.
Round 3:
Enko 5/8hp Attacks #3, who is still reeling from being tripped and punched in the chin, the time he drops the little goblins for good, a kick to it's heads cartwheeling it head over heals before it lands in an awkward heap.
Jaiyana swings at #4 but it manages to leap out of the way at the last moment.
Tavi tries to follow up on her earlier success on #1, but misses the wounded beast.
Goblin 1 5/9hp is angry at Tavi, and swings both dogslicers at her, cutting a long shallow cut down her arm.
Goblin 2 swings a manages to get a glancing blow on Enkos abdomen, leaving a small trail of red blood. -1hp Enko.
Goblin 3 lies still.
Goblin 4 lies still.
Round 4:
Enko 4/8hp cooly wipes some of the blood trails from his hip and abdomen, before launching a snap kick at the goblins leg. The creatures leg twists a little awkwardly, and it turns frightened, pained eyes at the monk.
Jaiyana steps up towards #2, but is unable to hit the creature.
Tavi swings once again, this time cutting the goblin deeply in its neck, blood spraying across the tunnel. She then moves to flank the last goblin with Jaiyana, drawing an attack from the now surrounded goblin, which misses easily.
Goblin 1 -1/9hp goes down in a spray of blood.
Goblin 2 Surrounded on three sides, flanked between Tavi and Jaiyana, Enko to the side. The sewage channel is behind it, but it wants to get one parting shot before it flees, missing both swings at Enko.
Goblin 3 lies still.
Goblin 4 lies still.
Round 5:
Enko 4/8hp rocks the goblins head with a spin kick, the goblins ears bleeding from the force of the blow.
Jaiyana strikes the goblin with such force below it's right armpit, the creatures arms and head separate from the rest of the torso. The goblins eyes blink once, staring at it's ruined body as the light fades from it's eyes.
Combat is now over. You've been away from the others for about 5 minutes. It'll take about two minutes to get back if you hurry. What now?
Enko grabs the arm of the bisected goblin and hefts the bleeding section. "An offering to the bugs," he says. "Let's take more goblins or fractions thereof and make haste."
I'm gonna need an I.V. of CLW at this rate...
[spoiler=Team "Does All o'the Work 'round Here!"]"Enko," Jaiyana says, breathing heavily from the half a minute of intense combat, "You are wounded. Do you need a potion, or will you be fine until I or another can tend to your wounds later?" She asks, her voice still steeled with determination, but with obvious concern as she moves to lift the largest goblin corpse she can carry.[/spoiler]
"I will take one if there is one to spare," says Enko.
Enko takes the proffered potion and pauses a moment to drink the contents, then continues along the path, carrying his bloody goblin gobbet.
The Barricaders hear noises coming up the tunnels behind them, as if many feet are moving quickly. A beam of light shines around one of the corners just behind them, moments later revealing a hearty Enko, Tavi, and Jaiyana, even though they do sport a few more slices in their clothes than last you saw them. The Bodysnatchers carry with them half a goblin, and a whole goblin, both dead.
The scene before the three absentees shows a focused Cornelous maneuvering a glowing stone block above the horde of tiny oozes at a tunnel 'T' junction. AC has found the marker and determined that it directs the group to the left. The sewage flow is moving that direction as well, and Corneleous is having some trouble containing the oozes, as some slip into the sewage and are carried towards the very tunnel you wish to take. Amon, AC, and Lucon are using boards from the barricade to push and swat the tiny nuisances away. Anyone looking might notice a burned patch of skin on Lucons shin, through equally burned and melted clothes.
Type disease, injury; Save Fortitude DC 12
Onset 1d3 days; Frequency 1/day
Effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Heal (Untrained)
Lucon peers into the bright light, board raised threateningly, but a grin splits his features as he greets you warmly. "Goblin meat?" he grunts, as he sends an ooze soaring back toward the swarm. "Let us hope it's enough. I think we can outrun the flow with the virtue of a distraction..." he says with a grimace. "Though I'm not sure I want to see them in another feeding frenzy."
"Enko, once we leave these sewers you will need your wound properly tended. The potion healed the immediate damage, but the filth of the sewer may have coated the little runt's blade. I have seen people on the streets suffer from such ailments; it is not pleasent."
Quickly, toss them in. I've had my fill with this place, and its smells.
"Between Lucon and me, we have the beginnings of an infirmary," says Enko. "I remember the signs myself--those dear to me have been taken by it." He looks down briefly, then looks at the industrious scene of the barricaders.
"If we throw the goblins to the right, will the bugs go that way? It seems some will still flow to the left. Can we divert the flow of sewage?"
He considers the bisected goblin swinging from his hand. "Thank you for reminding us you can see in the dark."
Lucon leans on his plank, gritting his teeth and thinking. "I... don't think so, Enko. Not with the tools and time we have. The flow is not too strong. If we are swift, we should be able to find a side passage."
Profession (carpenter) check
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I shall move them to the far side of the channel; as long as we stay on the opposite side and out of the flowing schmud. We should be safe- I don't think the creatures can cross the stream. To get to us, they'd have to climb over the ceiling. It's likely they'll focus on their non-moving dinner first!
"Okay. Set them down slowly as close as you dare, and get ready to move." he says to the others, mopping his brow. "Whenever you're ready, milord." he says to the Viscount, with something halfway between a bow and a nod.
When everyone is in position and ready to flee, the bodies are dropped and the stone is allowed to fall. As you suspected, once the goblin bodies are discovered the entire swarm responds, moving and squirming to get a bite of the easy pickings. Of course you don't stick around to watch the show, hustling down the left fork towards the safe house and freedom from these dangerous sewers.
You pass several other junctions, but no markers appear to alter your current direction. You continue to hear the shouts and calls of more Hellknights, but they seem distant and directionless. You proceed at a fair pace, feeling the end of your tunnel experience may be drawing close. Some question may still remain, from doors guarded by skeletons to rooms unexplored, but these questions are likely in the distant recesses of your mind. Turning a corner you think you might have heard something...