Syd picks up his crossbow and shoots at the advancing ants, but his bolt goes wide in the confusion.
Hoisting his shield in his left hand, Bohdan grasps his holy symbol with his right hand and intones a short prayer to Iomedae. Feeling her righteous presence among the men he nods and trudges through the sand to the very edge of the big rocks, ready to stand against the curious enemies.
Rackham moves to within the range of his newly returned spells, raising his left hand and rubbing his holy symbol with his right.
The Deceiver moves to F18 and takes cover behind a rock.
Ryor too hustles behind a rock at J18 and hoists the heavy crossbow he liberated from Mooj. Firing with the conviction of someone who thinks you should be able to step on ants, he sinks a bolt into the thorax of ant #1 and produces an eruption of viscous orange goo. The ant marches on.
Hands shaking a bit, perhaps from excitement, perhaps from surprise, Syd fires a bolt into the embankment behind the ants.
Turin runs like his trousers are burning and dives into the sand, pressing himself against a grassy hump in order to either avoid the combat, or, you hope, to ambush them when they pass.
Pulsifer hoists his stff and moves forward to M17 while Nerius, who has no incliniation toward being ant food, moves back onto high ground at O11 and prepares ray of enfeeblement (readied action).
Bohdan moves forward to build a defensive front with Ryor at K18.
The kids, some of whom are now crying and pleading to the gods, all retreat except for Katella, who hides with Turin behind the huge tuft of grass and sand at Q17.
The ants go marching one by one... doing so at a frighteningly high rate of speed.
ROUND 2
You are in the middle of the defensive line, the ants are 35 away and running toward you, and the plank is 6 feet long.
You are in the middle of the defensive line, the ants are 35 away and running toward you, and the plank is 6 feet long.
Everything except your money was in the trunk that the Deceiver and Ryor made Turin open. You have your staff, you spellbook and components.... There is still some additional stuff in there, too.
Everything except your money was in the trunk that the Deceiver and Ryor made Turin open. You have your staff, you spellbook and components.... There is still some additional stuff in there, too.
It is, it stands upright if needed, a priceless antique cabinet/trunk actually. Jon's greatsword is in there, too. Too bad he's lashed to the sand on the other side of the dune getting eaten by giant ants.
"This is foolish! Behind the rocks, you! The ants will outflank you without a solid anchor."
Also, it's listed as exotic. But now that I think about it, that seems insensible because only the reloading requires any special knowledge, otherwise it is actually EASIER to use than a regular crossbow because all you have to do is crank back the cable. You can learn to reload it when you find ammo.
I hereby rule that it is martial.
BTW, the ant is curled up and flailing its legs. Looks like you've hit something important.
Turin is delaying until after the ants move again.
Pulsifer worries that the ants will go after the kids and moves to S16. Nerius remains readied.
Syd, Bohdan? It's round 2.
Ranged attack. You can just look at the most recent map... I use "The Mapper" alias so it's easy to find and will continue to do so in the future. I try to bold round numbers, too, because I have a theory that a lot of pbp players don't pay a lot of attention.... (cough, cough, Shiny, cough)
;)
I still love you guys.
Ryor killed the ant at J25.
ROUND 2
Syd heads away from the main group. Gotta pr'tect them kids he thinks, moving towards the other group of ants. Unfortunately, his haste costs him his accuracy.
Affirmative.
Next up: Bohdan, then the kids, then the ants.
Bohdan also sees the advancing ants on the flank and joins in the chorus shouting for everyone to get behind the rocks (and him).
With the fast march pace the ants are setting they'll be on the group shortly, so Bohdan strengthens his grip on his shield handle and awaits the arrival of their curious attackers.
The kids keep running, horrified.
The ants continue their approach, seemingly oblivious that one of their comrades has been slain. An acid smell begins to burn you noses once they are among you.
Two of them surround Katella (R16&R18), who moved up to help save the other kids, but is not very skilled at fighting. One ant grabs her successfully and lifts her off her feet screaming in stark terror. Another ant seems to be trying to taste her feet, but has trouble grasping them.
An ant climbs over the rock almost effortlessly (to J19) and reaches for Ryor but misses as Ryor pulls away. Bohdan swings at it, but unaccustomed to it's strange, rapid movements he finds only stone.
Syd is engaged by an ant (R14) - it lunges at him with its pinchers to no avail.
One ant remains at Q22, it is swinging its antennae in the air and observing you.
Nerius, The Deceiver, Turin - readied actions.
Nerius: ranged touch attack on R16, the ant trying to taste Katella's feet.
Ranged touch, STR drain: (1d20 1=17, 1d6=3)
Ant save: (1d20=16), no effect.
Pulsifer moves to Q16 and attacks the same ant with quarterstaff: Attack, Damage: (1d20 1=11, 1d4=2). Pulsifer swings but the ant easily jerks out of his reach.
Everyone who's watching Turin marvels at his feat of agility as he flanks the ant that lifted Katella.
Attack, Damage: (1d20 3=8, 1d6 1=6)
But after his amazing dance around the ant his rapier whistles between the ants's legs.
I don't have time to write a good round summary, you guys can read the round above if you want. The important thing to remember is that the ant at R18 has grabbed Katella.
Rad, you have a readied action (do you?) and it would seem we've got you while the church doors are shut.
Go ahead and post out of turn, I'll sort it out later.
Ants still go last.
Initiative Count:
27 - The Deceiver: Init +7 (DEX 16)
24 - Ryor: Init +4 (DEX 18)
22 - Syd: Init +2 (DEX 14)
16 - Kids
14 - Turin: Init +2 (DEX 14)
14 - Pulsifer: Init +1 (DEX 13), Nerius: Init +1 (DEX 13)
14 - Bohdan: Init +0 (DEX 10)
14 - Ants
Tuhwa-1d20+5=6 The bolt flies up pierceing a coconut at R18...
The Deceiver draws his rapier and attacks the ant that just crossover the rocks.
Attack and Damage (1d20+4=15, 1d6+1=3)
Attack and Damage (1d20+4=10, 1d6+1=3)
The Deceiver steps back after his flurry of attacks against the ant.
The Deceiver draws his rapier and attacks the ant that just crossover the rocks.
End of last round: You didn't call it, but you can flank him with a 30 foot move around the rock to J20. That gives you a flank bonus and just the edge you need to damage him.
Tuhwa-1d20+5=6 The bolt flies up pierceing a coconut at R18...
Ranged attack while engaged, attracts AoO:
Attack, Damage, Grab: (1d20 1=21, 1d6=5, 1d20 1=11)
Confirm, Damage: (1d20=14, 1d6=5) - hits AC 14, confirmed.
The ant sinks his pincers between your thigh and groin causing excruciating pain and unleashing a torrent of blood: 10 points of damage.
As the giant ant tackles Ryor's thigh he throws down the crossbow and manages to grab his trident just as mandibles cut into his flesh, he screams out in great pain...
Nerius casts Cause Fear at ant #4 in Q16: Ranged touch attack: (1d20 1=18). Ant saves: Will: (1d20=20). The ant looks at Nerius for a moment and begins twitching.
Pulsifer casts shocking grasp and attempts a touch attack at the same shaken ant: Touch attack: (1d20 1=17, 2d6=7). Electricity courses through the ant: it seems dazed and the twitching worsens.
The teenagers remain in a group and watch the melee in terror.
Katella struggles free from the ant’s pincers: CM-break grapple: (1d20=18).
With the ant distracted by Katella, Turin is able to drive his rapier deep into the ant's thorax. Stinging viscous liquid sprays across his face.
Attack, damage: (1d20 3=21, 1d6 1=3)
Confirm, damage: (1d20 1=15, 1d6 1=7)
The ant looks seriously wounded.
This leaves Syd and Bohdan. Bohdan, the ant you are fighting has made an AoO this round.
The ants at J19, Q16 and Q19 are seriously injured - the last two look like they are nearing death.
The ants will take their move after you.
Syd chucks his crossbow down and draws his falchion He takes a mighty swing at the insect before him.
Falchion 2 handed attack, damage (1d20+6, 2d4+6=[9, 6], [4, 3, 6])
Syd chucks his crossbow down and draws his falchion He takes a mighty swing at the insect before him.
Syd's falchion skips off the monstrosity's chitin.
With the ant distracted by Katella, Turin is able to drive his rapier deep into the ant's thorax. Stinging viscous liquid sprays across his face.
Attack, damage: (1d20 3=21, 1d6 1=3)
Confirm, damage: (1d20 1=15, 1d6 1=7)
The ant looks seriously wounded.
Syd chucks his crossbow down and draws his falchion He takes a mighty swing at the insect before him.
Syd's falchion skips off the monstrosity's chitin.
Ryor stumbles nearly stabbing his foot of his bleeding leg...1d20+2=3
Bohdan swings powerfully but the mace skitters across the rocks: .
Still interested in the scent of Ryor’s blood despite the stabbings from Cordoba, the ant at J19 tries to snack on Ryor’s feet but he needs do little more than step away. Ryor, Bohdan, and Cordoba smell a cloying odor coming off the ant.
The ant engaged in combat with Syd at R14 continues to try and grab the sailor, who is having little trouble, so far, keeping the beast at bay but terrible problems killing it.
Things don’t fare so well for Pulsifer. After electrocuting the ant, even shocked it reaches for his arm and drags its claws down to his wrist as he pulls away, leaving a nasty flap of skin open and exposing his muscle. Luckily the pincers don’t hold.
Trying to regain its grip on the red headed Chelish woman after being skewered by Turin the ant at R18 tries feebly to grab her again.
From the ant at Q22 an unexpected move: It turns around and runs back where it came from at such blinding speed that it is gone in seconds. A sweet scent wafts toward Turin after it’s departure.
Should've used those drowned bodies as bait...
Round 4
Initiative count:
24 - Ryor: Init +4 (DEX 18)
22 - Syd: Init +2 (DEX 14)
16 - Kids
14 - The Deceiver: Init +7 (DEX 16)
14 - Turin: Init +2 (DEX 14)
14 - Pulsifer: Init +1 (DEX 13), Nerius: Init +1 (DEX 13)
14 - Bohdan: Init +0 (DEX 10)
14 - Ants
Don't hesitate to post out of order, esp. if you're goig AFK all day.