Brashen Trell |
'Oil, does anyone have oil? Prehaps we can soak the floor around the hole and light it. Or the entrance by which we entered this chamber if we havnt got enough time for that.' initative 8+2=10 Yeah i saw it last night actually, was pretty dodgy in parts (e.g surviving a nuclear blast in a lead lined fridge) but still enjoyable. Not as good as the old ones
Boland "Bowls" Karendum |
'Oil, does anyone have oil? Prehaps we can soak the floor around the hole and light it. Or the entrance by which we entered this chamber if we havnt got enough time for that.' initative 8+2=10 Yeah i saw it last night actually, was pretty dodgy in parts (e.g surviving a nuclear blast in a lead lined fridge) but still enjoyable. Not as good as the old ones
Thanks for ruining the story, Brash : )
"The Alchemist's Fire!" Boland exclaims in response to Brash's question. As he backs away from the edge of the pit, he begins fishing through his pack for the 2 vials of Alchemist Fire picked up from the Snake's Lair.
Obviously this action is subject to Initiative order.
Andolphas Hecker |
'Oil, does anyone have oil? Prehaps we can soak the floor around the hole and light it. Or the entrance by which we entered this chamber if we havnt got enough time for that.' initative 8+2=10 Yeah i saw it last night actually, was pretty dodgy in parts (e.g surviving a nuclear blast in a lead lined fridge) but still enjoyable. Not as good as the old ones
"A swarm of bugs is making that noise?" Andolphas seems incredulous. "Lady, have I offended you?" he murmurs to himself. "This does not seem like an appropriate or glorious way for one of your loyal servants to die and begin the journey to the Other Side..."
Hearing Brash's question, he calls back, "Yes, I have oil, and lots of it! Five flasks! Here!" Andolphas races to join Boland and Brashen by the edge of the hole, unshoulders his pack and starts to rummage through it in search of his flasks. "What do you want to use first, Boland? Your alchemist's fire, or the oil?"
Initiative: 11. And no, I have not seen Indiana Jones yet... a nuclear blast, though? You've gotta be kidding me... My expectations just dropped big time...
Brashen Trell |
Brashen Trell wrote:'Oil, does anyone have oil? Prehaps we can soak the floor around the hole and light it. Or the entrance by which we entered this chamber if we havnt got enough time for that.' initative 8+2=10 Yeah i saw it last night actually, was pretty dodgy in parts (e.g surviving a nuclear blast in a lead lined fridge) but still enjoyable. Not as good as the old onesThanks for ruining the story, Brash : )
"The Alchemist's Fire!" Boland exclaims in response to Brash's question. As he backs away from the edge of the pit, he begins fishing through his pack for the 2 vials of Alchemist Fire picked up from the Snake's Lair.
Obviously this action is subject to Initiative order.
nah well thats whats even kinda more stupid about it, that bit doesnt really have anything to do with the story line, the plot would have been exactly the same without it
DM Mothman |
Alright, this is a tricky chamber to map … so here’s one I prepared earlier: MAP
The hole is at O2, the sarcophagus (in its current position) at O14 to O16.
Boland begins round 1 at the edge of the hole, in O3. Everyone else may nominate their starting positions, although Brashen, Da’gret and Strevlik, having just finished pushing, should start in one of the adjacent squares to the sarcophagus.
Boland has a torch in each hand, whilst the strongmen must have put down or sheathed weapons and other held objects to push the sarcophagus.
DM Mothman |
Round 1:
Critters: 16
Boland: 14
Something happens: 13
Strevlik: 12
Andolphas: 11
Brashen: 10
Da’gret: 4
Boland watches in horrified fascination as the darkness continues to flow up the walls of the shaft. As it nears, he can make out some of the individual creatures in the swarm, shiny black beetles, about an inch long, with large pincers … thousands of them. An acrid stench rises from the hole with them.
The wizard stumbles back, and then hurries out of the passage, digging for and retrieving from his pack the two flasks of alchemist’s fire.
Suddenly, above the chittering sound of the swarm, there comes an echoing screech or shriek from somewhere down the hole. It does not sound like it would be made by the beetles, nor does it sound like anything produced by any human tongue.
The swarm ends its round 1 movement still within the shaft – barely.
Boland’s action is as described by him previously. A single move action takes him to say P9, and a second action lets him retrieve the items from his pack.
The rest of the party may now take their first round actions, the order is not critical at this stage.
Boland "Bowls" Karendum |
Call out your positions and I'll add them
Yep, P9 is good for me.
Boland finds the flasks he was digging for and holds them out if anyone wants to grab them, his hands shaking slightly. "They will ignite on impact so throw them in amidst the swarm as it flows over the edge. We can throw oil in after to fuel the flames if needed!" His voice is clear, though a waver of panic can be detected.
DM Mothman |
Beginning of map with our minis added
Call out your positions and I'll add them
Cool, thanks for that.
Strevlik |
Confirm Strevlik will start at N14. The ranger cautions Boland to the possiblity of the approach of another creature - "that screech didnt sound like bugs nor human for that matter, be careful".
He aims his bow towards the hole and readies an action (to shoot at whatever comes up).
I think Mothman is actually trying to hint at what the bugs are like - if you've seen the movie than you'll know what he's getting at and it's not pretty.
Andolphas Hecker |
Alright, given Brashen and Da’gret’s positions and the fact that the sarcophagus was pushed clockwise, Strevlik will start in N14.
Andolphas, is your action remaining as posted above? Moving towards Boland and retrieving lamp oil from your pack?
No... makes a move action to S15, where he kneels and begins to rummage through his pack (standard action) in search of his flasks, tossing a couple of them to Brashen and pulling the rest out for himself or whoever else may need them...
DM Mothman |
Brash starts on P16
Brash will pick up his tourch in his first round, and then move towards Andolphas to grab some oil.
Alright, I'll put you in R15, next to Andolphas - torch in one hand and the flask of oil he's just handed you in the other.
Just waiting on Da'gret's action and then we are into Round 2.
Da'gret |
With a snarl Da'gret moves to provide the slow moving wizard some protection. He thrusts one fist into the air and it springs into flame when he calls on one of the gifts granted by his bond with the natural world. The druid begins running toward Boland, shifting mid-stride from a loping savage to a massive boar with flames rolling off its muzzle and tusks.
Whoops, didn't realize it was my init-
SA: Cast Produce Flame
Swift: Shift to boar
MA: Q10
DM Mothman |
Round 2:
Beetle swarm: 16
Boland: 14, P9
The screeching thing in the hole: 13
Strevlik: 12, N14, holding action to shoot
Andolphas: 11, S15
Brashen: 10, R15
Da’gret: 4, Q10, in boar form and with produce flame active.
The skittering sound reaches a crescendo, and then a living geyser of shiny black beetles erupts from the hole, and begins to swarm towards the nearest living creatures – in this case Boland and Da’gret – moving quickly down the tunnel and into the main chamber, until the bulk of the swarm is almost upon Boland, with a few outriders already beginning to crawl over the wizard’s boots. The beetle swarm leaves a residual trail of yellowish slime in its wake – a slime that smokes slightly, and seems to eat away at the stone floor.
The beetle swarm occupies two adjacent 5 foot squares, currently O7 and O8. It didn’t quite have enough movement to reach Boland.
Strevlik may take his readied action to shoot at the swarm if he wishes … although the result of his Knowledge (nature) check indicates that this will be a virtually useless course of action.
Boland’s turn. As I read it, Boland is currently holding an everburning torch, a regular torch, and two flasks of alchemist’s fire – all a bit awkward…
Boland "Bowls" Karendum |
Apologies about the slow posting - been flat out the past few days.
Boland recoils at the rapid approach of the swarm, dropping the everburning torch where he stands and holding the real burning torch out in front in an effort to ward off the front ranks of bugs. He takes a careful step backwards and to the right and then hurls one of the flask of alchemist fire into the front of the swarm.
Technical: Boland drops the ever burning torch in P9 (free action), takes a 5ft step to Q10 (move action) and then throws a flask at the swarm in O7. To hit: 15 + 2 = 17. Damage 4 to the swarm in O7 and 1 to the swarm in O6 (splash damage).
DM Mothman |
Boland drops one of his torches, and then hurls one of the flasks into the midst of the swarm, stepping hurriedly back to avoid the voracious looking beetles. The fragile ceramic flask smashes apart on impact, and the volatile liquid within immediately catches alight, spreading out over a large portion of the swarm. Hundreds of beetles in the front rank are obliterated in heat and flame, and many dozens more scatter and scuttle away from the main body, finding dark corners to hide in, but much of the swarm keeps advancing mindlessly though the flames.
The front swarm is “badly wounded” but still active. The rear swarm takes some splash damage.
Note: I got the size of the swarms wrong – they should occupy 10 foot squares rather than 5 foot squares, but never mind now…
Another screech echoes out from the hole, and then a thing flaps its way up in the wake of the beetles and out into the passage.
The bird-like creature is about four feet long from beak to tail, with a wing span of about five feet – but the strange thing is, it has four brightly coloured feathered wings arranged symmetrically around its body, with no discernable feet. Its long, slightly curved beak has four prongs, and it has four eyes arranged around its head – it almost looks like two birds of prey somehow squashed together.
At this point Strevlik can take his readied action … but as its unlikely to have a game-shaking impact on the creature’s progress, I’ll continue.
The bird-thing flies up out of the shaft and down the tunnel, screeching as it goes. As it flies up into the main chamber and above the boar-form of Da’gret, an bolt of white lightning arcs down from its feathered tail, striking the boar glancingly, electricity crackling over his thick hide for 6 points of damage.
The creature ends its movement (still flying) in square R11, about twenty feet above the floor level.
Strevlik’s readied action and regular turn. Then Boland, Andolphas and Da’gret, who may all post their actions now (don’t need to wait on initiative order except where your action is dependent on one of the others who is yet to act).
Andolphas Hecker |
The bird-thing flies up out of the shaft and down the tunnel, screeching as it goes. As it flies up into the main chamber and above the boar-form of Da’gret, an bolt of white lightning arcs down from its feathered tail, striking the boar glancingly, electricity crackling over his thick hide for 6 points of damage.
The creature ends its movement (still flying) in square R11, about twenty feet above the floor level.
Andolphas's eyes widen in horror as the creature flies out of the hole and hovers high above the party. "By the Green Lady's robes... what is that thing?!" The cleric hesitates for a moment, unsure whether he should run back to the stairs as Brashen suggested, or move to help Boland or Da'gret. The thing is beyond my reach, I can't throw far enough to hit the swarm, and it wouldn't be prudent to move closer to the swarm with this thing waiting to attack... "Boland, get back here!"
Delays action until the end of the round.
DM Mothman |
The bird thing;
Knowledge, the Planes 12+
Knowledge, the Planes 13+
Knowledge, the Planes 18+
Knowledge, the Planes 23+
Boland "Bowls" Karendum |
Strevlik’s readied action and regular turn. Then Boland, Andolphas and Da’gret, who may all post their actions now (don’t need to wait on initiative order except where your action is dependent on one of the others who is yet to act).
Though I'd love another turn before getting horribly mauled by the beetles, I assume you ment Brashen, Andolphas and Da'gret's turns? Knowledge the Planes 17 + 4 = 21
Upon seeing the Bird creature exit the tunnel, Boland recalls a passage he read in one of his mentor's many books. "It's an Arrowhawk from the elemental plane of air!" he exclaims with wonder, before realising that unlike in the book, this one was attacking them!
"It's hard to hit, immune to electricity, heat and cold" he shouts, hoping this information might help his companions in some way.
"Boland, get back here!"
Andolphas' shout brings Boland's attention to the more immediate threat of thousands of tiny beetles swarming towards him, and his eyes widen as he sees them continue onwards despite the alchemist's fire.
DM Mothman |
DM Mothman wrote:Strevlik’s readied action and regular turn. Then Boland, Andolphas and Da’gret, who may all post their actions now (don’t need to wait on initiative order except where your action is dependent on one of the others who is yet to act).Though I'd love another turn before getting horribly mauled by the beetles, I assume you ment Brashen, Andolphas and Da'gret's turns? Knowledge the Planes 17 + 4 = 21
Yes, Brashen, sorry about that.
Da'gret |
Da'gret is still spasming from the electrical shock, but shakes it off. Boland shouts out just in time as the boar was about to trade lighting for fire. Immune, huh? One thing at a time then.
Fire erupts from his snout incinerating a swath of beetles getting too close for comfort and with a jerk of his head to indicate Boland should follow, the razorback races in front of the mage cutting across the room. He stops just before the sarcophagus and wheels about defensively.
Missed the part that we weren't waiting for init.
-When I say "In front of" Boland I mean through his square, not provoking an AoO.
-I was going to use the fire melee style, but I can't afford to do that right now, so one ranged use ends the spell.
-Move to M13
-Damage 1+1 = 2 (suck)
Strevlik |
Strevlik takes his readied action to shoot at the bird creature.
Roll: 20+5 = 25. Critical confirmation roll: 16+5 = 21.
Damage: 8 (+6 if critical hit)
He then shoots another arrow at it.
Roll: 3+5 = 8.
Strevlik moves around to Q16, and calls out to Brashen, “Brashen, I need to borrow your axe.”
DM Mothman |
Strevlik’s first arrow flies straight and true, hitting the Arrowhawk squarely between two of its wings. It lets out a tremendous screeching shriek and wobbles in its flight, clear fluid leaking from the wound. It is clearly quite badly wounded, but continues in its flight, throwing lightning at Da’gret (as described above), the feathered shaft lodged firmly in its body. Unfortunately, the ranger’s second shot is not near so accurate, flying way off target.
Da’gret spits flame from his mouth, at the swarm advancing on him and Boland. It strikes the lead bulk of beetles, and burns up scores of them, scattering the rest. Already broken by the Alchemist’s Fire, the front rank of the swarm is now completely dispersed, the individual beetles that remain posing no great threat – but the rear half of the swarm remains.
Da’gret’s flame attack “killed” the swarm at O8, the second swarm at O7 is still active.
Brashen, and/or Andolphas (although I believe he’s delaying until after Brash acts.
Andolphas Hecker |
If Brashen doesn't finish it...
"I'm going to regret this," mumbles Andolphas as he drops the remaining oil flasks in one of his cloak pockets and begins to advance towards the bird-thing. "Protect thine servant, Lady, and take this creature as an offering to take with you into the Great Beyond."
When he is almost directly beneath it, he hurls his spear at the creature, immediately raising his shield in defense.
Attack: 20 + 1 = 21!!! Crit. confirmation: 4 + 1 = 5 (crap); Damage: 5.
Andolphas Hecker |
Andolphas cautiously steps closer to the dead or dying creature, still a bit shaken by the encounter. "I have long been involved in the preparation of the dead for their final journey, but never have I taken a life myself, until now," he mumbles half to himself, with what sounds like a tinge of regret. "I do not feel the pride for this victory that I thought I might... Boland, you seem to know about this creature... know you what its allegiances might have been, or who it might have served?" Remembering that the beetle swarm is still advancing upon them, the cleric attempts to retrieve his spear from the bird-thing's corpse.
Brashen Trell |
Seeing the flying creature fall to the fall, Brash moves forward, to o12 shouting to Boland 'Come on Bowls, quite fooling around up there!' He then unstoppers his flask of oil and throws underarm towards the swarm Brash hopes the oil will hit the swarm and ignite on the alchemists fire 15+3=18. Im assuming Strevlik doesnt need the axe anymore with the creature down
DM Mothman |
As Andolphas spears the flying bird-thing, Brashen dashes forward and bowls his oil flask through the still smouldering pool of Alchemist’s Fire and towards the rest of the swarm.
As the open oil flask passes through the fire, it ignites, showering the swarm in fire yet again. The beetles disperse into the chamber, skirting around the Alchemist’s Fire, trying desperately to escape the flames … however, although a hundred or more were killed by Brashen’s action, the swarm reforms, many dozens of beetles converging on Boland, crawling all over the wizard’s feet and legs, biting and stinging with their acid saliva for 3 points of damage plus 3 points of acid damage; also, make a DC11 Fort save or be nauseated for 1 round.
Bit or artistic license used in the description; in game terms, Brashen’s attack sorely “wounded” (but did not quite finish) the swarm, which then took a diagonal movement around the still burning square of alchemist’s fire, and into Boland’s square at P10, where it ends its movement, sharing a square with the wizard.
Nauseated:
Bolands turn.
Boland "Bowls" Karendum |
… however, although a hundred or more were killed by Brashen’s action, the swarm reforms, many dozens of beetles converging on Boland, crawling all over the wizard’s feet and legs, biting and stinging with their acid saliva.
Boland cries out in disgust and pain as the creatures swarm up his legs, stinging and biting all the while. He feels the bile rise in his throat as panic over-whelms him. His spells and composure forgotten, it is all he can do to turn and flee the insects, wildly swatting at them as he goes. Fort Save 2 + 2 = 4. Takes a move action away from the swarm to S14.
Brashen Trell |
Andolphas retrieves his flint and steel and a flask of oil from one of his pouches. "Green Lady, your humble servant begs your favour... please light this oil, for my task on this Oerth is not yet done..."
Crap... lighting a torch/oil is a full round action.
'Throw ur oil priest, and i will see it catches alight!' Brash shouts, waving his tourch. Brash will hold until Andolphas acts
DM Mothman |
Andolphas Hecker wrote:'Throw ur oil priest, and i will see it catches alight!' Brash shouts, waving his tourch. Brash will hold until Andolphas actsAndolphas retrieves his flint and steel and a flask of oil from one of his pouches. "Green Lady, your humble servant begs your favour... please light this oil, for my task on this Oerth is not yet done..."
Crap... lighting a torch/oil is a full round action.
Yes ... lighting a flask of oil with flint and steel is a full round action ... lighting a pool of oil by throwing a lit torch at it should be considerably quicker.
Andolphas Hecker |
Assuming that Andolphas can still act...
At Brashen's urging, the green-robed cleric rushes to the warrior's side, and tosses one flask of oil at the swarm.
Moves to P12. Attack: 12 + 1 = 13, if necessary... I'll let the DM or Brashen figure out the damage, once the oil is ignited...