Heralding the Coming of the Age of Worms (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

@Markus: The swarms appear to be natural. The large beetle appears to be an unnatural variant of the smaller bugs.

Ref (swarm): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Ref (bug): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
1d3 ⇒ 1

The large bug slips in the slick residue of Lucid's spell. The swarm seems mostly unaffected, but a number of the small insects are caught in the goop.

Round 1: Init 12

The second swarm advances in search of a meal and covers Pavo in its crawling horror.

Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Acid: 1d4 ⇒ 2 DC11 Fort save for half
DC11 Fort save at start of turn, or you are nauseated for 1 round.

MAP

"Ahhh, get em offa me!" Pavo yelps as he starts to feel the sting of their bites. Leaping to the side, he fights off the wave of nausea that washes over him as he looks at his dagger. Judging that it is useless against the smaller bugs, targets the bigger bug instead, moving up next to Ramos and launching his dagger at the large bug.

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Moving to the square left of Ramos and throwing dagger, dice roll already incorporates range penalty

Fort Save DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Current HP: 8/17

Sverrir curses in dwur under his breath as biting bugs scuttle across his squat form;

Roaring he rushes forward lashing out with his pickaxe at the larger of the group's tormentors;

Pickaxe Ataack on Large Beetle: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Current HP 5/11

Desperately slapping the encroaching swarm off of him, Ramos attempts to retreat away from the biting and stinging insects.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Ramos will make a move action to move 30' away, to the left of lucid. Sorry I would cast a spell, but I don't think I could with all the damage I just took.

Here it is...

Round 1 Init 16

Marcus moves through Lucid's position and directly down 3 squares. He lights the scarf tied just below his fauchard's blade with the flame from his miners' helmet.

Lil flamboyant, excuse pun. But it's the reason he has 2 scarves in gear.

In fact you cannot cast because you failed that fort save. All you can do if you fail it is move iirc.

Fearlessly, Sverrir wades into battle striking the larger insect.

Round 1: Int 6

The big insect stands up, incurring an AOO from Sverrir:
AOO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Who smashes it with feeling.

Righting itself, it lashes out at the stout dwarf,
Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
but misses

Pavo's throw goes wide

Round 2:

18 Khyrn
18 Swarm 2
16 Lucid
16 Marcus
12 Swarm 1
11 Ramos
8 Sverrir
6 Big Bug
5 Pavo

Khyrn throws the flask of oil at the nearest swarm trying to avoid party members if possible, can't really tell who is under swarms on the map!

Attack, flask of oil, thrown: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Damage, flask of oil: 1d6 ⇒ 3

@DM, I'll let you roll the 50% for the flask of oil

Khyrn pulls a torch from his pack, and takes a 5' step back.

Ok, we'll just say that you're targeting the a square that the insects occupy. Lucid, I'm retconning your acid flask, so it hits too. I don't think that a swarm is really trying to avoid a projectile, and it covers the floor. The 50% rule is dumb, so I'm ignoring it.

Khyrn lobs a flaming flask of oil and burns one swarm and singes the other.

Round 2: Init 18

The swarm moves to the nearest fresh meat and Pavo is once again covered in the tiny terrors.

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Acid: 1d4 ⇒ 1DC11 Fort for half

DC11 Fort or be nauseated

MAP

Lucid targets his last acid flask where the fire hit, trying to hurt both swarms without splashing anyone in his party.

Range Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d6 ⇒ 3

After his through he moves 20 strait back.

Well, that one misses for sure. :(

Round 2 Initiative 16

Armed with a properly flaming fauchard, if there is such a thing... Marcus advances to Khyrn's right. Waving his flaming weapon into the cloud of insects.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

2 squares east of Khyrn. Leaving damage up to DM.

1d8 ⇒ 1

Lucid's toss falls short, splashing him, Khyrn and one of the swarms with acid 1 damage

@Marcus: a torch does 1 fire damage so lets say 2 points for your flaming fauchard and that it only holds together for 1d4 rounds.

Round 2 Init 12
The now flaming swarm scuttles forward to envelope Lucid and Khyrn.

Marcus AOO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 Swing and a miss

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Acid: 1d4 ⇒ 1 DC11 Fort for half.. or not
Dc11 Fort or be nauseated on you next turn

Lucid had moved back 20 feet after his throw. would the swarm still reach him?

Once more fighting down the wave of nausea that comes over him as the biting bugs cover him once more, Pavo, starting to the feel the pain from the multiple acidic bites, retreats out of the bug mass, drawing a flask of alchemist's fire as he does.

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Moving to the square north of Markus and drawing a flask of alchemist fire.

Pressing home his assault against the giant bug, Sverrir swings again with anger etched on his face;

Pickaxe: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

apologies for jumping ahead of Ramos - busy day at work and after tomorrow so might be weekend before i can post again

@Lucid:Sorry, I forgot to move you back on the map, so just on Khyrn then.

Pavo retreats.

Sverrir slams his pickaxe into the fearsome beastie once more and collapses dead at his feet.

MAP

GM Fanguar; having a hard time accessing Google Maps, so let me know if this move won't work.

Current HP 5/11

Positioning himself to best take advantage of the terran and distance from the monsterous storm. Ramos fishes out his holy symbol to Ralishaz and with a prayer that the vile bugs experience worse luck then his companions, he lets holy energy flow forth from him.

Channel Positive Energy 1d6: 2 times remaining for the day
Heal: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Edit: Lame =/

@Ramos: I positioned you so that you hit everyone except Sverrir with the heals, though you do catch 1 swarm as well. It's on fire, so 1 HP shouldn't be a big deal.

Round 3
18 Khyrn
18 Swarm 2
16 Lucid
16 Marcus
12 Swarm 1 Dead
11 Ramos
8 Sverrir
6 Big Bug Dead
5 Pavo

The oil continues to burn,
1d6 ⇒ 6
Frying more of bugs and scattering the swarm.

Cool color, but I'd say a Will save would be at best for half. That's what you get to resist a cause light wounds or a negative channel.

Good call... sounds a plan

Round 3 Initiative 16

Marcus steps around Pavo, close enough to reach the remaining swarm. Reaching out with his flaming polearm, he hopes to disperse the vermin.

Attack, for 2 fire dmg: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

I think that swarm is gonna move before we get to go. I am holding off posting to see where it goes.

Paranoid, making sure you're not waiting on me...

@Sverrir; The save to resist healing sounds good to me.

Khyrn retreats a few feet and channels his god's power:

Everyone except Sverrir regains:
1d6 ⇒ 5 HP

The swarm surges forward covering Pavo and Marcus in its creeping horror:

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Acid: 1d4 ⇒ 1
D11 Fort save or be nauseated

AOO from Marcus and Pavo. Marcus' posted roll can be for his AOO.

Markus then Lucid then everyone else

Round 3; Init 16+]

Marcus finds he needs to take a step back from the buzzing horror, before taking another swing!

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Attack for 2 Fire Damage: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

AOO action

Desperate to not feel the wave of nausea wash over him again, Pavo throws the alchemist fire down in the area next to him where he sees the swarming bugs.

Not sure if I can throw an alchemist fire with an AOO. If so, then throw it in the square next to me where the bugs are. If not, then I will have to forgo my AOO.

alchemist fire: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Sorry guys, nauseated. Marcus moves as far 30 directly away from the swarm. No attack.

Watching the swarm undulate past him and being unable to assist beyond harsh language, a battered and bruised Sverrir takes a swig of his flask and curses the gods under his breath;

Godless Healing ability:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

@Pavo: You can take a standard attack and since you had already drawn the flask, the attack is valid.

Pavo throws the alchemist fire almost at his own feet, but his toss flies true and ignites the remaining swarm, though he and Marcus are caught in the fires radius. Both take 1 pt damage

as the swarm only has 1 hp left and the fire will do another 1d6 damage at the start of the next round, I'm calling combat over. You are Victorious!

Is it over? Markus asks as the last swarm scatters and he turns his head to heave and re-examine breakfast. The flame on his fauchard extinguishes.

Not our finest hour... I'm a librarian, damn it all.

Glad we had a little alchemist fire and acid between us and good thinking with that burning scarf Markus. I'm all out of alchemicals myself. And about out of spells. How much farther are we thinking about going before we rest some? Lucid puts his torch and tinder box away as he talks.

Sverrir grins wryly;

"Speak for yoursel Markus; This brute was felled at least... Now whose for a victory dram?"

Once again the dwur offers his comrades a swig

I'll make drinkers o' ye all eventually dammit!

I don't know if I can take much more. We should head back or find a defensible location.

Sorru haven't had time for a sizeable post

Gripping his holy symbol tightly, Ramos calls out to for his friends to gather around him. With a brief prayer to Ralishaz, a wave of holy energy floods out around him. For a brief second you hear a the clattering of dice and the smell of smoke and desperation before its gone.

Channel Positive Energy 2d6: None remaining 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11

"If you all want to back out for the rest of the day i'm ok with it. This trip has turned out to be more dangerous then a fixed back alley game of card-snipe"

Channel Positive Energy 2d6

Markus wipes him lips with his sleeve.

Praise be to Ralishaz! That's much better. Marcus makes some almost holy sign in the air.

Running his hands through his hair and popping his neck, he grips his polearm and starts to pick at his now burnt scarf. He crinkles his nose.

Grimicing at the pain of the fire, his grimace is quickly deepened as he takes a swig of liquor offered. Coughing as the strong liquid went down, it had none-the-less done its work, helping to momentarily forget the feeling of the critters climbing over him and biting at him.

After the burst of healing energy, Pavo stands up straight and says to Sverrir, "Not sure what that stuff you carry with you is, but it is stronger than anything I've tasted before, and the Emporium carries some pretty potent brews." Seeing that the others are looking ready to rest, Pavo says, "Though I wouldn't mind continuing on for a bit, I am understanding the value of divine healing and where I might be right now without it. If you all really want ta rest, then I can't do much but follow."

Khyrn reaches for Sver's flask, "I'll take you up on that."

He takes a drink, grins, and hands it back, "Thirsty work, thanks."

"I would prefer to continue, but I defer to the group, let's head back for the night, rest up, and return tomorrow ready to discover the rest of this tomb's secrets!"

"Head back? I don't know if we should do that. We head back now and people might start asking questions about where we been." Looking to the others, Pavo continues, "Nah, if we are gonna rest up, I think it might be better ta do it here."

Marcus stretches. I'm up for a little more, but for heavens' sake... let our next obstacles be something you can hit with a weapon.

Now, onto matter of reason and utter stupidity... If the swarm and that rather large insect came up that shaft. It would reason that the coast should be clear and that there is enough room for us to descend. Nay?

And, they got up here rather quick. So, it shouldn't be that far a drop.

Markus pokes the large dead bug with his fauchard. Think it could have eaten something valuable?

A quick dissection of the large insect reveals its stomach to be full of the same orange vomit-like substance you saw in the fountain that was adjacent to the brown mold.

The broken elevator shaft is scared and pitted. DC5 climb, or automatic success with rope. 60ft deep shaft.

The small wizard looks down into the shaft as well, and then casts Dancing Lights down into the shaft to full illuminate its length. I concur. Lets see if these vermin guarded anything of worth.

Markus looks at Pavo, Does this feel cold to you? Without touching, of course.

His face wrinkling at what Markus was referring too, Pavo says, "Not sure...and don't know if I want to find out." With that, Pavo takes out a length of rope and, gauging the distance to the light below, looks to one of his party members and asks, "Anyone have another length of rope?"

Sverrir smiles and meets any drams with a nod;

”Put hayr on your chin lads! Here’s to more fortune in battle and in coin nei?”

The burly dwur takes a swig, stoppers the flask and walks over to where the group gather at the shaft;

”Down, down we go eh!”

Here's some rope, Pavo...

"I have some rope as well if you need it." Murmers Ramos gesturing to his pack. "Markus you leading the way?"

Sure, why not... Markus carefully straps/lashes his weapon so that it dangles from his wrist. Then, the librarian begins his climb down.

You have little trouble negotiating the hole. As you clamber over the broken remains of the elevator you find yourself in a room not unlike the one at the base of the yellow elevator. Dozens of now familiar bas-relief figures stare disapprovingly from the walls here. Many sport crossed arms and stern expressions. A few of the statues' heads are missing, and some have huge chunks torn out of them. Others have a weird melted appearance, as if they'd been sprayed by something terrible. A large glyph that looks like a stylized arrow points down a short corridor that leads to a four-way intersection.