Initiative
...and a 2...that's fabulous lol.
Hmm - well; if we add the current party's Ini together we have a total of 44 - divide it by 4 you have an average of 11.
If Cali had bothered to roll, as well as Clari - and they both got Ini's of 20 - then the group's total average would be a 14.
Yeah - so - I don't think it will matter - you guys go second.
So - that said...
Charge!
In any case -
From the caves and tunnel you see a massive charge of creatures. You cannot see their features but they are are swarming out of the caves toward you hard and fast.
init
what kind of check do we use to ID it?
Identifications
dungeoneering
planes
Isani repeats the gylph she recognised on the forehead and altar, "Shoggoth.".
To all: The Knowledge checks alone allow you to identify fully the range and power of what "Shoggoth" is (see the link on the actual name above - which I had put. Just click it and realize that it's basically just a monster creatures worship, though you may bump into it at some point...
To Ras: Actually it should have been 50 feet from the base of the dais - which is 50 feet square - and you're in the middle looking at the runes. This puts you at roughly the center of the top of the dais - but the creatures are a little more then 65 feet from you.
Apologies - I should have been more clear. Still - if you take a step or so, you'll be able to see them. And it won't take you any closer to danger - no matter which direction you go puts you closer to danger.
Anyhow - since you are all literally surrounded - I recommend taking a step up first in some direction - then I'll happily share - just need to know where you want to go first.
Seeing the group surrounded, Yillim steels himself. He tenses, ready for battle and at the same time, shakes a bit with excitement. Again, he would have a chance to prove himself valuable.
Stand ready comrades! We may be outnumbered, but if we stand together we will prevail! Let us think of the others that came before. We must return their bodies to a place of peace, so that the may find their solace in the hereafter!
....and light! We need more light!
Clari casts Reduce Person on herself, and thats it.
Good except Cali and Ras should be adjacent to each other...and can we get a description?
Yillim will move closer to the group, so he can get back to back with someone, and ready his bow.
Very good! For now I shall put Lia at "AC: 35" (for new map, Lia will be played by "Dior's" avatar).
Clari is reduced.
Meanwhile - I should add in relation to Ras's statement; but really, this is for all of you:
I asked Cali/Ras where they wanted to move - and I was not told they wanted to be next to each other.
Without specific answers - I get confused. So please be as specific as possible with what you want to do. If I don't get specifics, I have to guess - and I don't want to ret-con if we can help it.
As for Cali/Ras - apologies - I merely assumed you would move apart to get a better view of what is around you. As that is not correct - I shall move you next to each other.
Yillim: this is probably your first real combat with the group - just so you know, when you got the email - it should have coordinates on the map, and designations on who is who.
Please let me know what coordinate you want to be on the map - because I don't know where you want to move, I can only guess. Currently, depending on how you turn - you can be "back to back" with Isani.
Isani has not taken an action. Neither has Ras, and neither has Cali. However - Lia will likely act once she sees her spot on the map.
Now - as to what you see?
You see a hoard of goblins charging at you. They seemed to be wearing mis-matched leather armors - and carrying scimitars - a typical weapon of these creatures!
Other then Clari casting a spell - and Yillim readying his bow - is anyone else taking action? This is your Initiative - it's all up to you.
For now I see one spell cast and one held action.
Arasmes turns and uses his last bit of higher end magic and a black mass spreads among the attacking goblins. From the mass thick shadowy tentacles begin to whip back and forth snaring goblins and crushing them, their bones popping and cracking.
Nice job Ras - you just riled up 10 goblins - let's take a quick look at their CMD -
Well - good times - looks like you were successful in "entangling" some goblins; though they do seem to be kicking, though.
Great Scott - could they still be alive? No - the only way that could work is if they had class levels... Like 2 levels of rogues, 1 of barbarian, "weapon finesse" and "dervish dance" with scimitars - Oh - my - gods!
Of course - it is pretty dark - they may not actually still be alive - but only squirming as if they were alive; caught in the throes of your spell.
In any case - we have actions from you, but are still waiting on:
Cali, Lia and Isani.
For now Yillim is holding action.
Lia raises her scimitar higher, in ready, scanning the walls and noting the horde of goblins. She casts (standard action) and she and any of her allies within 50 ft will be filled with a powerful surge of courage for a minute.
Isani casts Spiritual Weapon and shapes the white energy into a scimitar and directs it to attack the goblin at .
Isani - you do hit - but you are sure - even in the light - that you don't drop the goblin.
Lia has blessed the party -
Cali is not going to act this round.
And apparently no one is going to run for the door.
Okay - sounds good - new map is coming soon.
So our two options are cluster around the alter and try to kill 'em all, or we can form a cluster and try to right our way out. There's 6 of us, so we can form a 2x3 block and try to cut through, but no matter what we do we won't be able to protect Raz and Isani, although they could climb onto the alter.
Cali looks up at the goblins grimly.
Her mind a steel trap – but it can function well and quickly when time demands – and in an instant things come together for her!
Firstly – the name “Shoggoth” which is etched on the altar behind her is not wholly unknown to one that has traveled between planes. Aye, she knows it enough to feel the hideousness of the thing’s very title – further, she feels that standing so close to an altar with that name on it would not be wise for anyone!
Secondly – she is no fool at combat and recalls with grim alacrity though goblins may be weak and easily destroyed with a mere slash of one of her mighty claws – that is not the great difficulty. Goblins are known as “fools” – or other more colorful insults – but this comes mainly from their ability to be swamped with bloodlust. When a chief or other valuable is harmed, stolen or even damaged – logic rarely plays a part in their mindset. Rather, they rush madly forward to destroy an enemy and will keep coming unless some great power can break through that bloodlust. But if that does not happen then they will come en masse and employ their usual battle tactic.
That tactic is – as she knows, even without having to think on it – to surround an enemy from all sides and strike at them. They know that even if her comrades can are able to hit – and kill – half of the goblins at each chance they attack the goblins, this may not matter. She knows that at least 8 goblins can surround a single enemy – and with their scimitars and natural cruelty – they are adept at finding weak points easily to effect maximum potential damage. Moreover; their own inherent cruelty encourages them to do unnecessary and unwholesome things to those who they attack – even as she has seen them do to the goodly Mak Morn and Ironhorse – and she knows this delight in hurting others does encourages them to foul things - such as using poison on their blades!
Her mathematical brain turns a moment and considers that statistical probability of so many creatures that can flank her, or her master alone – and what damage they have the potential to do every time they act – statistically – with their weapons and numbers – at least one will hit – and if it does – with those tools… the damage would not be pleasant; rather - she will be struck with a blow that hurts her on a critical level, it is likely - and even if she can slaughter 4-5 of these enemies each time she strikes - will that matter much if they can employ such numbers? In the end - the sheer amount of them is enough to do bring her, her master and her allies all to their deaths, if for no other reason then the amount of times they suffer damage!
Further, her latent knowledge of this creature that the altar was raised to… If her comrades plan on using an altar to this “Shoggoth” to prevent them from being surrounded – this is likely to do more harm then good! She knows well that at least “Shoggoth” is not a thing to offer anyone protection, and whose very presence is so dark and evil that it is said It can warp the very mind of those who look upon It and see It in battle –Cali’s innate knowledge of the planes reminds her of another grim detail: this Shoggoth is from legend is one of the “Old Ones” – and this is not a thing to be accepted with ease or joy – even now the party may be taking ill effects in their own mind from standing so close to the altar and not even realizing the effects!
Further – she saw evidence in the graffiti that leads her to believe that "Drow" may be involved somehow with this place! She has heard that name before and remembers something of those creatures from stories and legends – they have a knack for magic and a passion for using stealth that makes them nigh invisible, and they also love poisons too – could they even now be driving the goblins on?!
She shudders at the thought as a .
She knows to the south the “doorway” to the room is only 10 feet wide. But she also knows that the room inside is wider. She knows that once inside the room that her allies can stand on either side of the doorway and hack at those who charge through it. But she also fear even that may not be enough if more of these scum issue forth from the surrounding caves to press the attack!
Still - if her comrades could reach the stairway and charge up its height – though only one at a time – then her master could hold the stairs with summoned beasts until they rushed higher and higher – and seal the stairway behind them with some powerful spell or other tactic – even if it meant she would have to stand herself on the stairs and endure each attack.
But the stairs are narrow – only one may move on them at a time – she could not be flanked there, and if her comrades could only reach those stairs they may just make it out alive – even as she teaches these creatures of filth to fear the power of her master – and wail and gnash their teeth when those who survived remembered the massacre on the stairways to the surface!
She flexes her paw, the claw dragging an errant scratch across the stone dais. Smoking acid trails from those same claws etch marks in the stone beneath her feet and she nods to herself. She knows her master stands by with the others – waiting for the goblins to charge. But she fears that – with their numbers – and the fact that her comrades have exhausted many spells – and that the altar they use to "protect themselves" may actually play some unknown or grim part of what could happen next – and the chance that there may even now be Drow (or worse) spurning these scum on… It is well likely that to dally here would suicide for her master and her allies!
She spares herself a glance to the south – to the entrance to the room with the stairs and possible escape, freedom and salvation – then looks to the hoard around her – the slavering, slobbering, cursing, hideous bloodthirsty hoard!
She looks again to the south and reckons that if her companions stayed close to each other – flanking their own priestess – they may charge right through the goblin line and suffer damage – yes; but the priestess could surely heal them as a group with her channeling as they ran – and they would not have a chance to be wholly flanked – only suffer a few attacks as they rushed at full speed to the south! If only her master had waited to use his Black Tentacle spell after they charged south to cover their retreat then it would have been a masterstroke – but; such things cannot be helped now.
No doubt his mind may have been distracted with other matters – but surely now his thoughts are clear now!
Seeing the goblins rushing toward her, and the tunnel south of her – she takes her second and bellows in a deep voice to her allies –
”Fly, you fools!”
I'm gonna go with Joe's suggestion to escape!
If Cali charges and pounces, she can rend a few of the Goblins and give us an escape rout, and we can just run through to the doorway, where we can form a death Gauntlet. She can at least wack the one at AH: 36 if she can't pounce. the rest of us full run at 4x our normal movement speed and GTFO!
That's going to be touch for Clari - after all - your move speed is less - you did shrink your size ;)
But don't worry - you have time to get things figured out. Also - someone may tap in soon...
And don't thank me - thank Cali!
:)
This spell doesn't change the target's speed.
She's like a Kobold, cause they are small and move at 30 ft.
also, thanks Cali, i appreciate it! Now if you don't mind i'd really appreciate it if you'd forge a gap and let us the through the enemy line!!!
This spell doesn't change the target's speed.She's like a Kobold, cause they are small and move at 30 ft.
also, thanks Cali, i appreciate it! Now if you don't mind i'd really appreciate it if you'd forge a gap and let us the through the enemy line!!!
Ah - my mistake! I thought she was "small" like a gnome, or a dwarf, or halfling, or a goblin - who are also small... My bad!
Well - anyway - what exactly is your plan at this time? Personally, your suggestion about running south via Cali doing pounce sounds good. But I guess it's up to the rest of the guys to act.
For now - what are you going to do?
Yillim will stay with the party, and switch to melee weapon as they move.
Tensing, and ready for a fight, but also concerned about the sheer number of the enemy.
Wait for Cali to attack, and commandeer the character if it comes to that?
can she charge to AG:35, so she can pounce?
if she takes out the Gobbo at AH36 we only have two that can take AoOs as opposed to more while we run away
If I don't get an answer from Cali/Arasmes soon - then I will take over the character and take care of it as you recommended Clari.
Meanwhile - Yillim - what grids would you like to move to? That will likely effect where the other players are going to end up in.
Cali charges to Ag35, kills the Gobln at AH:37 with her reach, and the rest of us can run through that gap.
Can we use run to get out?
You can run as a full-round action. If you do, you do not also get a 5-foot step. When you run, you can move up to four times your speed in a straight line (or three times your speed if you're in heavy armor). You lose any Dexterity bonus to AC unless you have the Run feat.You can run for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution score, but after that you must make a DC 10 Constitution check to continue running. You must check again each round in which you continue to run, and the DC of this check increases by 1 for each check you have made. When you fail this check, you must stop running. A character who has run to his limit must rest for 1 minute (10 rounds) before running again. During a rest period, a character can move no faster than a normal move action.
You can't run across difficult terrain or if you can't see where you're going.
A run represents a speed of about 13 miles per hour for an unencumbered human.
If we can Run, then Raz can get to AY 37 and we cluster around him, then we get through the door.
It looks like Raz would need to run around the alter so that complicates things, and i'm not sure if he can. He could cast Haste on the party members, we move at 60, then we withdraw at the first chance we get to avoid a few AoOs...
If we can't run the gap, then i think we probably should gather around Raz in the square AM:37 to AN:38 with Yillim at AO:37/38 cause he's the toughest of us. That way he's the only one that can get flanked, and only by the ones in a straight line from diagonals, and beside him. That's 4 SA's Max.
I'll see what I can do - thank you Yillim and Clari - I'll do what I can to make things happen.
But I'll check the board again to see what happens in an hour or so.
Hopefully we may get a post from Cali/Ras or Isani/Lia - if not, I'll take over for them.
Right.
Well, first things first.
Don't worry about the combat anymore.
Also - you're free to tap over to the Discussion Thread - there's some news there.