Fearless fire a bolt into the swarm down the hall, reducing it by one rat. Brother Butterfly's mace is a bit more effective, squashing a few with one blow.
Meanwhile, inside the infirmary Cats leaps away from the ROUS, getting a little distance before firing his bow. The arrow strikes the rat in the head and it falls, twitching and bleeding out on the floor.
The other ROUS snarls and snaps at the Mariner, but only gets a mouthful of armor.
INITIATIVE
Fearless (14/16)
Cats (16/17)
Brother Butterfly (11/19)
Dire Rat
The Twin (17/17) Eidolon (7/11)
Pinkie (17/17)
The Mariner (17/27) *2 Fort saves needed vs Distraction and Disease
Swarms (red -6)
"GET OUT!" the mariner points Fearless to the door at the other end, as he tries himself to flop out of the near door and slam it shut.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Pinkie sets up next to the Twin ready to attack if anything decides to come near the 2.
"No you'll not take over again....I'm here with you in case something comes out that tunnel....don't make me tell your wife....oh yes I would"
With his left hand, the Twin draws a blade from his bandolier and flings it at the swarm, hoping to distract it away from the gagging Snake as his eidolon flees up and over the bookcase.
"Get away from me, Pink! The rats are just going to swarm over us regardless of how bold you think you might be!" he yells as he retreats away from the withered creature that the group seems to like keeping around.
With his Snake retreating The Twin hurls a dagger at the mass of rats in the library. The blade cuts through one and sinks into another, but it is not enough to disperse the swarm.
Pinkie watches the tunnel, but nothing comes out.
Having had enough of the rats biting him all over the Mariner rushes from the infirmary and slams the door behind him.
The Swarm in the library surges toward Brother Butterfly!
Blocked from pursuit the swarm in the infirmary turns and moves to engulf the dire rat nearby. The big rat snaps angrily into a few of the smaller ones, but is quickly overwhelmed.
An angry screech is heard from somewhere in the infirmary. Two voices chitter, their source unseen. Suddenly there is an electric zap and the smell of ozone fills the air as a jolt of electricity tears through Cats. He barely registers a cloaked ratling with one red eye on the table before him before all goes dark.
INITIATIVE
Fearless (14/16)
Cats (-1/17)
Brother Butterfly (7/19) *Fort save needed
Dire Rat (-1) *distracted
The Twin (17/17) Eidolon (7/11)
Pinkie (17/17)
The Mariner (17/27)
Swarms (red -8, orange -3)
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While swinging wildly at the oncoming rats (after dislodging his mace from such fine book as Top 10 Cemeteries in Ustalav and Spelunking - what you don't know CAN kill you.) He swings,and swings. Showing the rats what ribbons of metal on his mace.
Seeing that his mace cleared an opening, BB makes a move to freedom and a spot where Desna can heal most of his breathren.
Seeing the door to the room closed, he puts the math together.
Mariner?! I say this in the most respectful of ways, but what was your deluded mind thinking when you closed the door and left CATS on in a room with more rats than there are sails on a 3 deck galleon?
Cast channel energy
I think I can get Fearless, Supersnake, Mariner, myself.
I exclude the swarm.
Finding only himself outside the room, his shoulders sink; not in embarrassment, rather in the acceptance of going back in to take more bites. "Alright alright! I'm coming!!" the Mariner answers Brother. He explodes back into the room and hacks at anything resembling vermin (not the Twin).
-Posted with Wayfinder
Con check for no reason at all.
Cats falls into a puddle of his own blood, having being given a shocker from behind.
Seeing that his crossbow is having little effect against so many rats Fearless feels a small tingle in his mind as a book lurches off of the shelf at the red-furred rodents.
The book splits apart as it strikes the ground, destroying the contents within.
HP 16/16
AC 18
Spells 1st 1/2
Inspiration 3/3
Tactician 1/1
Pinkie run past the swarms of rats into the room with the Mariner to the opposite corner trying to find the sorce of the rat infestation.
The Twin moves forward as Pinkie and Brother decide to flee to the north. "Cowards..." he mutters as he is left with the swarm of rats. He flings a non-magical dagger at the swarm as he steps out of the bookcase maze and the Snake lashes out from the top of the bookcases, trying to eat as many as possible.
Fearless concentrates and pulls books from the library, his mind using them as weapons against the rats. One tome tears into pieces as it smashes into the ground near them.
Batting away a few more rats, Brother Butterfly moves into the hall and channels healing energy.
The Twin and his Snake try to scatter the swarm in the library, but neither is able to pick off any more rats.
Reopening the door into the infirmary, the Mariner jumps on and swings his polearm, but fails to hit anything.
Pinkie runs into the infirmary and looks for the source of the rats. He sees the cracks in the floor, but no other rats within them. Across the room, standing on the bloody table over the smoking body of Cats, he spots a cloaked ratling with white streaks in its fur.
Raising a claw, the cloaked ratling gestures at Pinkie and two darts of magic leap across the room. It then then hops off the table and drops out of sight behind it.
The missiles slam into Punkie leaving two bloody bruises. He then feels a terrible pain shoot up his leg and looks down to see a second ratling biting into his thigh. Blood flows quickly from the wound!
The Swarm in the library turns toward The Twin!
Blocked from pursuit the swarm in the infirmary turns and moves to engulf the dire rat nearby.
INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16)
Cats (-1/17)
Brother Butterfly (9/19)
Dire Rat (-4) *distracted
The Twin (14/17) *2 Fort saves needed
Eidolon (9/11)
Pinkie (3/17) *1 bleed
The Mariner (19/27)
Swarms (red -11, orange -3)
Fearless' eyes twitch as his mind unfolds yet again. Fragmenting even more as another crack runs through his psyche. A single bolt of mental energy hurtles as it slams into the book shelf, knocking more books from the shelf.
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The book splits apart as it strikes the ground, destroying the contents within.
Seeing that The Twins and his SuperSnake are probably handling the library swarm of rats, he decides to follow The Mariner into the fray of the infirmary.
BB moves across the corridor. Stepping over the book that strangely dislodged itself from the bookshelves and massacred itself as it flew and tumbled. With his step, he absently notices the name on the broken binder but just as quickly forgets it.
"The Rise and Fall of Syradel by Egarian Thalasar".
Stepping into the room, he takes stock of all that is happening and moves to a spot to allow the full fruits of Desna's healing grace to make an impact. He is alarmed by Cat's state and how hurt Pinkie is.
Give Life and Sustain your messengers and their soldiers on this world.
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The swarm flees in the direction of the solitary Twin as Pinkie and Brother flee. "Cowards! I'll devour your souls if I die!" he yells after them as he is left to deal with the swarm on his own.
The bonded pair attacks as the swarm moves, but Twin is still overrun and feels the bite of a thousand teeth. "And your imaginary family's souls, Pinkie, you bloody useless piece of..."
Twin cannot finish his thought as he slashes once more with his magical dagger and retreats as the Snake continue to harass the swarm from maximum range.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Round 4, Init 18
Cats stays on the ground, not moving. He takes a moment to do nothing...then, with a breathe, reaches to grab his bow.
Careful now, Cats, if you move too much, I think your spleen will fall out.
after finding the last ratling Pinkie witdraws back out of the room pulling out a potion as he goes
The battle of the rats rages on!
Veins stand out on Fearless' temple, his head pounding from the strain of tapping into his psychic powers. Books and loose papers fly madly about out the library.
Brother Butterfly bursts into the infirmary and finds his Watchmen fighting for their lives. Pinkie runs by, scorched and bleeding. The Mariner stands strong, but swinging his polearm about in a blind rage that rends privacy curtains and disembowels a bed, but somehow manages to miss the rats. Across the room he spots Cats feet sticking out from behind the bloody table. Brother Butterfly tries to help them with Desna's divine energy again, but the effect is so minimal that few notice much of a difference.
A warmth passes over Cats, who comes to on the floor of the infirmary. Every muscle aches from the electrocution, but somehow he survived.
Back in the library, The Twin curses the others who have abandoned him and his Snake to a swarm. Entering a frenzy of fang and blade the man and eidolon tear into the rats, biting and stabbing and kicking and crushing until they are surrounded by chunks of bloody rat remains.
Rather than pursue Pinkie, the ratling climbs the wall to gain a height advantage and turns toward the Mariner. It's eyes flash and it hisses.
The remaining swarm consumes the dire rat in the infirmary, then seems to be dispersing on its own, rats crawling away under beds and back into cracks in the floor.
INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16)
Cats (0/17)
Brother Butterfly (10/19)
The Twin (17/17)
Eidolon (9/11)
Pinkie (4/17)
The Mariner (20/27)
Ratlings
Fearless ducks back into a corner as he cowers from the visions in his fractured mind. "NO....No... Leave me alone. Leave me BE!" He screams as a missile of pure psychic energy careens through the door, striking the dire rat.
HP 16/16
AC 18
Spells 1st 0/2
Inspiration 3/3
Tactician 1/1
Seemingly invigorated by the bloodbath of the tiny rats, Twin and the Snake rush into the room with the sleeping Cats. "Now even the mascot is relaxing?!" he says as Fearless and Pinkie flee from the room. "I just saw Pinkie run out. He literally just ran in here, running in fear from the swarm and leaving me behind to fend for myself!"
Much swifter than usual, the snake slithers under the table to the south and lashes out at the ratling from against the wall, trying to grapple him as Twin goes in with his magical dagger.
Round 5, Init 18
Cats will stand, taking slow ragged breaths to get on his feets. He is unsteady and moving slowly to keep his intestines from falling out his a$$@&%# where he was shocked.
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Calling Dr. Feelgood, Please replace this joke that calls himself a cleric
Breathing a sigh of relief that Cats is not dead, but still mortified at the hurt and carnage in this room-- and his inept ability to fix it with healing......
Thinking the weak healing was maybe his fault for mumbling the last part. He clears his throat and repeats the ending of his call for divine aid.
Ahem...and their soldiers
The Twin having cornered the ratling, the Mariner moves in to exterminate.
>>
-Posted with Wayfinder
Fearless taps into his psychic powers and sends a mind bullet at the ratling, injuring it!
Cats drags himself upright, the effort nearly causing him to pass out again.
Brother Butterfly calls desperately for his goddess and is rewarded with a burst of energy twice as powerful as any he's summoned today, but still far from full power.
The Twin and his Snake move in, both attacking the cornered ratling. The ratling jumps away from the Snake, but takes a solid stab from the Twin's dagger.
Pinkie uncorks his potion and prepares to drink it.
The ratling exposed with nowhere to dodge, the Mariner raises his polearm to finish it off...
A violent shock shoots up Brother Butterfly's leg, causing his teeth to chatter. At his feet, the cloaked ratling growls that his magic was not enough to lay the big man out.
The cornered ratling concentrates and vanishes!
INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16)
Cats (3/17)
Brother Butterfly (0/19)
The Twin (17/17)
Eidolon (11/11)
Pinkie (7/17)
The Mariner (23/27)
Ratlings (purple -10)
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With an air of (fake) Bravado, BB takes a couple steps back and gives the brown capped Ratling one of his sterling white smiles.
You fell into my trap! I did that to lure you out! Cats, shoot this thing until it surrenders! If it doesn't surrender quickly, I'll make certain it ends up as a lump in SuperSnakes belly.
Maybe it's the smell of ozone or the fact that he's teetering and about to fall down that his threat seems a bit hallow. or Maybe it's the image of Brother Butterfly's Barbarian Muscle running screaming from the room that makes his threat fall flat. It could be both of those combined.
Speaking of bellys, Desna needs to heal all of ours.
His head clearing Fearless grabs ahold of his crossbow and rushes into the room to see most of his companions barely standing. Brother Butterfly and Cats shaking as they are barely able to prop themselves on their own two feet.
His hands shake as he grabs a bolt and reloads his crossbow. Fearless' eyes glaze over as his mind still reels from his psyche continuing to break and fold in upon itself.
"Is it over? Are they all gone?"
He looks as his eyes dart all around the room.
HP 16/16
AC 18
Spells 1st 0/2
Inspiration 3/3
Tactician 1/1
Feeling the wave of healing wash over him Pinkie drops the potion back into his pocket and moves in tossing a dagger at the ratling as he rejoins the rest of the group
"It's a bat - IT'S A BAAAAT!!!!", the Mariner drops his pole arms and runs screaming from the room.
The Twin scowls as the ratling disappears into the ether. "Well, at least they don't all flee." he says as he sees the one appearing after searing Brother's leg. "Looks like there is more prey..." he adds as he turns and lets the Snake rush in first to try and grapple the small humanoid.
"Do you not see that one, Fearless?" he asks, confused by the halfling as the Snake strikes.
Once the Snake tries to attack, but gets trapped under the table, the Twin flings a normal dagger at the rat from 10' away. "Take this!"
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Round 5, Init 18
Cats gains more of his footing as Butterfly's healing hits him. He slides over to take a shot at the red rat, hoping to a bit of revenge before he dies.
"Haha! This cat has claws!"
to hit;
damage.
"Very small, clipped claws..." Cats grouses.
AC: 17 (dex + leather)
HP:3/17
"Do you not see that one, Fearless?"
"Not over these giant sized beds!" He sighs as the enemy still holds its own against the group.
Moving into the infirmary, Fearless looks for the enemy.
Cats and Pinkie have clear shots, but their attacks deflect off some kind of magical force that protects the ratling.
Brother Butterfly channels energy again, his power building even if his confidence is not.
The Twin sends in his Snake, but it fails to catch the small target. The Twin's dagger, however, flies perfectly and leaves the creature with a bloody gash.
Howling like a madman, the Mariner flees combat.
The cloaked ratling hops back onto a bed and gestures at Brother Butterfly sending two bolts of magical energy slamming into his chest and knocking him unconscious.
The other ratling reappears as it jumps on the Twin's back. It attempts to bite him, but its teeth get stuck on his chain shirt.
INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16)
Cats (7/17)
Brother Butterfly (-4/19)
The Twin (17/17)
Eidolon (11/11)
Pinkie (11/17)
The Mariner (27/27)
Ratlings (red -5, purple -10)
The Twin feels the ratling leap onto his back so he bucks back against the small creature and whips around. "Think you can take me?!" he yells as he takes a swipe with the dagger in his other hand as the Snake lunges once more, trying to snag the stronger, magic-wielding rat.
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Pinkie watches in horror as Brother Butterfly drops like a sack of bricks and quickly reaches into his pocket and retrieves his potion and pours it into the mans mouth carefully
Round 6, Init 18
Cats grunts as yet another arrow fails to find any purchase. He tries a different tack, drawing his short short as he teamworks with the Serpent.
to hit (flank);
damage.
to hit (flank);
damage.
"I'll cat you with me!"
AC: 17 (dex + leather)
HP:3/17
"GET DOWN!" Fearless yells out at the Twin as a bolt screams past the man's right ear, nearly hitting the purple-furred ratling.
HP 16/16
AC 22
Spells 1st 0/2
Inspiration 3/3
Tactician 1/1
Fearless fires a warning shot at the cloaked ratling as Cats moves in behind it. Distracted on one side by halting and Snake, the creature is unable to avoid Cats sword and takes a vicious wound. Then the Snake darts in and snatches it up in its jaws!
Elsewhere in the room the Twin stabs unsuccessfully at the ratling trying to bite him.
Pinkie grabs his potion and rushes to Brother Butterfly's side.
Badly injured and clamped in the Snake's jaws, the cloaked ratling struggles for a moment, then cries out, his squeaky voice transformed echoing into common.
"I surrender! I surrender!! I'll tell you all of his secrets! I'll do whatever you want!!"
INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16)
Cats (7/17)
Brother Butterfly (-4/19) *Stabilization check needed vs DC 14
The Twin (17/17)
Eidolon (11/11) *Grappling
Pinkie (11/17)
The Mariner (27/27) *Fear 2/3
Cloaked Ratling (-25) *Grappled
Purple Ratling (-10)
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"I surrender!"
Cats raises his sword to strike again...but something hits him in his gut, jellying his legs, and causing him to pause.
No! I must make things right! I did bad things! I DID THEM!
Cats' eyes flash first in anger, then in hurt, then he lowers his sword and raises his hand to get the Serpent to back off...as a gnawing sense of guilt rises from within.
"DON'T KILL IT! DON'T CAT IT!" Cats yells with far more vehemence that he normally would, trying to create not-death where might have wanted it a moment before. "Do not. Kill. No more killing for me. For us. Not like this. Not like this. I did something bad...and I won't do it again."
Cats looks to the Twin to heel his pet.
"aaaaaaaAAHHHHhhhhaaaaaaaa!!!" as the Mariner dashes through and past the library.
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Brother Butterfly's breathing goes from ragged to calm and he opens his eyes. Tasting the sweet drops of blue potion water that helped bring him to bare consciousness. He smiles as he sees Pinkie's shortened fingers around the potion bottle.
Thank you Pinkie. Good quick thinking and teamwork. You are the best a companion in arms could ask for.
He raises to one knee and puts a right hand over his tattoo'd forearm.
Fearless reloads his crossbow and brings it up under the ratling's chin. The sharp bolts breaks through the creature's flesh as a small trail of blood flows down the shaft of the bolt and onto the cracked and aged wood.
"Who's secrets? Tell us what you know."
Fearless stands eye to eye with the beady-eyed creature.