DM Bigrin's Second Darkness (Inactive)

Game Master bigrin42

"I agree with Bruendor. Our focus should be Saul... and gold and glory, but mostly Saul."

Disappointed, Kel puts her dagger back away, the crystals untouched. Maybe on the way back out?

While you were busy looking at the mineral on the walls, A pair of
creatures emerged silently from the pool of water behind you. They are man-sized worms, with a maw of tentacles and hooked teeth. Some might say they don't look happy to see you, but that would be a mistake. They are always happy to supplement their diet of fish with something tastier.

"Worm-thingies!" Anklebiter squeals. "Fight or run?"

"It would be bad to get pinched between these and another foe, like the stinky trogs, I say we stand and fight!"

Init 1d20 ⇒ 2

"Let's fight, we don't always get the choice, so this is refreshing"

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4.

"Here we go again," Anklebiter grumbles. He snarls a string of words that sound vaguely Elven at the worms, then readies himself to cast.

Sorry for the delay.

"Will these things never end?" Calla snarls, quickly drawing back her bowstring and letting fly.

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16; Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3;

Any idea what these things are?
Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

I have other knowledges if I guess wrong on dungeoneering...

Good idea! Knowledge (dungeoneering) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22.

If the worm-things don't back off, Anklebiter snaps a short, familiar spell: "Stilla Acida!" The Goblin sends a glob of acid flying at the closest worm-creature.

Acid Splash; ranged touch attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 for 1d3 ⇒ 3 acid damage.

Calla and Anklebiter both identify these things as an aquatic for of grick

Any resistances? Weaknesses? Special attacks?

Round 1

Kel draws her crossbow and shoots at the beasts. "How did all these things possibly get along with each other down here, it's more crowded than the city!"

Crossbow, Light +4: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Yeah, what do I know about them? I'm aware of their specifics as a player, just not sure what Bruendor would know.

I linked the creature. The rolls were high enough for you to just read the creature stats

Lefrik is startled enough that the things catch him a bit off guard, but he hurls a javelin at one just to test its abilities.
To hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Their hide is strong against weapons!" Anklebiter chitters. "Fall back to me, I'll put magic in your steel!"

Translation: these jerks have DR10 / magic. I'll start casting Magic Weapon from my scrolls next round.

"As you say." Shortage of enchanted or blessed greataxes. It's one of the world's greatest tragedies.

Every member of a cavescouting team has a role. Some of the team are distance men, some are skirmishers, others are problem solvers, and still others are the executioners. And like any good acting troupe, the team has to know their role inside and out - and more importantly, trust that the other members know what to do.

Bruendor was already moving when he saw the tentacled horrors. Just as he was about to put a name to them, Anklebiter correctly recognized the threat and called the right play. He missed a step though - someone needed to step into the breach that Lefrik would leave. Someone needed to distract them while the executioner was provided the correct tool for the job.

That someone was him. He rushed forward, and took a defensive posture. "Come on, uglies," he growled. "Pay no attention to the big guy - just try chewing on me for a moment."

Bruendor moved forward to take Lefrik's place as the big barbarian hustled back to get his axe enchanted by the goblin. As they moved, the two ladies opened fire with their crossbows. Kelendra missed entirely, but Calla's shot took the lead creature in the head. her shout of elation was cut short when she saw the bolt merely fall from the shallow hole it had made; not even a trickle of blood to show that it had damaged the creature at all. Anklebiter's ball of acid did the trick, though, burning a small hole near to where Calla's shot landed.

the grick in the lead lashed at Bruendor with a mess of tentacles. None of them did any damage, but the dwarf was so busy parrying them that he took a shallow cut ont eh leg fromt he creatre's razor-sharp beak.

The other ran past the dwarf, ignoring the potential danger, and instead lashed out at Calla. She easily skipped aside from the blow.

No AoO if you go total defensive, unfortunately.

"Bastards!" Calla curses. She drops her bow and pulls out her morningstar, hoping to distract the creature so Lefrik can finish it off once his blade is enchanted.

Fighting defensively, aid another action to give Lefrik +2 to hit: Morningstar: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 2 - 4 = 14

Anklebiter whips out one of his freshly-bought scrolls and slaps a hand against the hilt of Lefrik's axe.
"Bipennis magica!" he chants, and a familiar surge of power passes through the weapon.

"Bruendor! Hold on!" the Goblin chitters. "I'll come do the same for you in Lefrik's shadow!"

As soon as Lefrik moves back into the fray, Anklebiter creeps along in his shadow, trying to get closer to Bruendor.

Anklebiter casts Magic Weapon on Bruendor's axe and then moves after him, using Stealth 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20.

"Damn!", Bruendor swore as he felt the grick tear away a chunk of meat from his calf. "I forgot how sharp these things' beaks are!" He nodded in response to Anklebiter's call, and began to withdraw towards the Ulfen warrior and the goblin wizard in his wake. His blade still swung out to bat away the grick's tentacles, keeping its attention focused on him.

Lefrik nods to the others, swapping with Bruendor and taking his turn on the front line again, swinging the now enchanted greataxe at the nearest foe. [Talk]My turn, vermin![/Talk]

magic bonus counted in
To hit with greataxe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
if that hit, dmg: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

round 2

Kel steps back to a defensive posture, her crossbow useless, and casts bless on the group.

Did you count the +2 to hit I gave you, Bruendor?

The combatants shift as tentacles and hooked beaks continue to lash. Brunedor faded back and let Lefrik take his place as the goblin continued to upgrade their weapons as fast as he could. Lerik took a nasty cut from a beak, and a tentacle wrapped itself around him arm. Tiny hooks on the suckers of the tentacle dug into his flesh and small rivulets of blood when he finally tore his arm free. Liekwise, Calla struggled to tear free of the tentacles that wrapped around her legs, only to see stars as one smashed her across the temple.

Anklebiter scampers over to Bruendor and whips out the second scroll.
"Gladius magicus," the Goblin chants, touching the Dwarf's rapier on the hilt. Another shiver of magic passes from a scroll through the Goblin into steel, even as the writing fades from the parchment.

"This spell is much too useful," the Goblin mutters as he tries to fade into the background again. "Need to write it in my book, or else get a wand with it."

Anklebiter moves to J18, casts Magic Weapon for Bruendor and Stealths: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24.

"Argh. The things a damn sea monster in miniature." he slashes down on it again with the currently enchanted axe.
Hit roll 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
dmg: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

If these were real dice I'd be threatening them with microwave destruction

"I'm useless against this foe! How can I aid the rest of you?" Kel calls to her companions.

Hissing in pain, Calla again tries to harry her foe, stepping aside to give Bruendor a chance to move closer and attack.

"Over here, Bare Chin; we'll catch him between us!"

If you move to L-16, we should be able to flank next round.

"Use magic!" Anklebiter calls to the women. "Damage-magic to them, support- and healing-magic for us! Only magic will work to hurt them, unless you're insanely strong!"

"That or get us some magic weapons," Bruendor remarked as Anklebiter touched his rapier, a resolute look coming over his face. He was about to shout an order when he heard Calla parrot exactly what he was about to say, earning a grin from the normally dour dwarf. "Don't have to ask twice to be my dance partner, Waspy!" He raced forwards, getting into position and drawing the creature's attention as he moved. He thrust at the monster's body with his newly magicked sword,

Anklebiter's spell caused Bruendor's rapier to glow with a pure blue/white light. The dwarf grinned and dashed back into the fray. Meanwhile Lefrik and Calla were moving swiftly, launching tentative blows and trying to keep the creatures' attention. Bruendor took a heavy blow from the creature's beak as he rolled past, then drove his blade deep into the grick's mouth. Blood spurted and hte creature writhed as its food bit back. The flailing creature hooked into Brundor once more, tearing another large gash in his thigh. The other also managed to land a blow against Lefrik, gouging a fairly large chunk from the barbarian's side.

Kel, when I've got nothing else I can really do, I find Intimidate works well to debuff the enemy; you should be naturally good at it with your Charisma.

Calla quickly pulls her shield from her back and again tries to keep the grick's attention on her instead of Bruendor. +2 to Bruendor's attack.

"Simul clamo, simul moris!" Anklebiter chants, and an unearthly wailing starts up in whatever serves the grick savaging Bruendor for a skull.

Ear-Piercing Shriek at the grick at L15. 2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8 sonic damage unless the grick makes a DC 14 fortitude save for half damage. If it fails the save, the grick is dazed for 1 round.

If Anklebiter's spell takes out the grick, Calla will five-foot step to M-16, giving Lefrik a chance to move into a flank and using her aid another action to give him +2 instead of Bruendor.

Lefrik grunts in pain as he's clipped again.

Seeing the opening Calla gives, he uses it, shifting his feet and trying again.

To hit 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21Plus flank bonus if that works
dmg: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Bruendor curses as the grick's beak tore more chunks out of his body. "Not used to pain, are you, beastie? Well, too damn bad!" He thrust at the grick again, hoping to skewer it and end its foul existence.

If Bruendor's attack drops the grick, then Kel will move over and heal him

CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Calla stepped forward, while Lefrik and Bruendor both circled their targets, looking for openings. Bruendor found one, and drove his blade deep into the the grick's fleshy underside. The beast quivered, rearing up high on its wormlike body before crashing back to the ground. Its tentancles fell to lay still on the stone floor.

Lefrik also landed a solid blow, rocking the creature back as he avoided its tentacles and beak with ease.

"Ah! better!" Lefrik grins, "Perhaps Desna is not entirely upset with me today."
and his great axe whips out again

to hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
dmg: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

What about my spell?

Bruendor couldn't have killed it without your spell ;-)

Bruendor nods to Kel as her healing spell knits flesh back together, and is off again, leaping into the fray with Calla and Lefrik. He grinned to himself, as he saw the beast was harried on two sides, and blindsided it with his blade.

"Should have run away, squid-mouth," Anklebiter growls as he unleashes his standard spell on the creature. "Stilla Acida!"

Acid Splash[/i] ranged touch attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 for 1d3 ⇒ 3 damage.

Calla continues to try to distract the creature, giving her companions an opening.

"Stop playing with it and just kill it already, Blondie!" she growls

Fighting defensively, aid another action to give Lefrik +2 to hit: Morningstar: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 2 - 4 = 8

Or not.

Kel will wait to offer healing to Lefrik, should the creature land a hit against him.

Bruendor and Lefrik circled the remaining grick, launching distracting strikes and avoiding the thing's tentacles. Then, as Anklebiter's blob of acid flew in, they struck simultaneously. The grick's beak shattered as Lefrik's axe crashed into it, weakened by the acid from the goblin's spell. Bruendor's rapier dove into the mess that had been the monster's face, and the tip pierced what served it for a brain. The grick let out a hissing burbling scream, and then collapsed to the floor.

"Wonderful," Calla mutters as she examines her wound, wincing almost imperceptibly.

Then the half-elf looks around, for any signs that Saul did come this way despite the presence of the monsters and then for tracks or any sign of where he might have gone.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Kel extends a healing prayer to Lefrik.

CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Saul must have had magic to get through these tunnels. I've heard of potions that turn a person to a cloud of gas, maybe Saul become an enchanted fart and floated through here undisturbed." Kel wrinkles her nose, "Let's keep moving, the quicker we're done with these tunnels the better."