Dungeon Master: Is the Red Fish a known insignia of a company or individual?
Knowledge Local:
Thorgrym and Odric seem to be heading to the cabin. Gaius will hang back on the boardwalk and keep his weight off of the boat.
Odric and I keep going forward to the cabin and listen at the door before we open it.
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You scramble for the ledge and it too gives way as you tumble into the rotted hold taking damage from the fall.
Initiative:
Grym
Odric
Keftan
Ferox
Gaius
Morkeleb
Spiders
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The quartet of spiders advance on Grym, each baring their fangs that drip with poison.
Bites:
for 1 damage if a hit.
for 1 damage if a hit.
for 1 damage if a hit.
for 1 damage if a hit.
For each hit Phil, include a fortitude save as the poison sprays its way into your wound(s).
The new battle map is here
1d20+4
Odric, seeing Grym's tumble immediately tries to reach for his falling friend. As Grym's hand barely misses the railing and Odric's outstretched hand, Odric curses quietly. Heaving his bulk up and over the decrepit boats gunwale, the big man leaps after his companion, heavy pick in hand.
When he lands in the stinking, fetid water, he helps a visibly shaken Thorgrym to his feet. As Grym stands flexing his limbs and grimacing in pain, the two hear the scuttling of the spiders almost simultaneously.
Perhaps something about Thorgrym's scent attracted the four arachnids to him; more likely though Odric's musk registered to their tiny spider brains as 'less than tasty.'
The spiders rush towards Thorgrym's sodden calves, but he is able to stab at one with the point of his dripping sword as it closes with him.
After Grym's AoO, Odric occupies the square directly east of Grym, hopefully that flanks at least one of the spiders.
Odric nearly roars, then remembering the need for stealth at the last second he chokes out a curse to the nasty little creatures instead, Filthy spawn of Norborger! Die!
Odric begins furiously smashing at the eight-legged monstrosities, sacrificing accuracy and precision for brute force in his revulsion. The red carapaces of the spiders' pulsating abdomens provide a tempting target in the near-blackness belowdecks.
Thorgrym is bit 3 times. [occ]if my armor class is 16 I'm hit 3 times right?[/occ]
Fortitude save
Fortitude save
Fortitude save
I'm attacking the nearest one with my sword. for the attack. If hit, then damage .
Upon seeing Thorgrym fall, Gaius moves down the dock and pushes past Odric, climbing over the side and dropping down into the bottom of the boat and landing adjacent to Thorgrym's square.
(Should put him against the wall of the boat in the square above the, "A11", marking on the map.)
Gaius is alarmed to see the spiders but is quick enough to draw his rapier and prepare to defend himself.
Ferox dashes down the dock, bow in hand, ready to shoot anything threatening his compatriots in the boat.
** spoiler omitted **
OOC: Mike, you're way back towards the building front, just off the dock. You'll have to double move to see the boat.
Thorgrym grits his teeth to avoid crying out from the terror of housecat sized spiders biting the crap out of him.
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Eagerly the spiders clack their mandibles, anticipating a feast tonight. The party lokos to rob them of their dinner as they rally around Grym. The suddenness of the situation leaves Grym off balance. Though he plants his foot into a rotting floorboard for balance, there is little to the thrust of his blade. The spider is unharmed. Unfortunately one of their bites sinks into your hip and you feel the course of the poison. You take a point of strength damage.
In the blink of an eye both Odric and Gaius leap the rail and plummet into the hold with Grym.
New Round. Battle map is here. Post your actions.
The spiders, now surrounded by the stink of a meal and the threat of steel, scatter. From Grym's thrashing form two leap off, one towards Gaius, the other towards Odric. As they draw near you see the globs of venom oozing out of their mouthes like the spittle of a hungry animal.
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His thorough preparation of warm-ups and calisthenics really paid off for Odric whilst he was tumbling through the air. He manages to deftly land on his feet, pick at the ready. . Unfortunately his perfect landing was slightly misjudged, and he jarred his knee painfully on an unseen crate below the brackish water's surface taking from the fall
Odric's heavy pick arcs through the darkness towards the scarlet spider scuttling towards him. As the spider turns its attention from Grym to Odric, its attention is slightly divided between the two humans. Odric's heroic strength as he grips his eagle-headed pick causes his veins to stand out in stark contrast on his forearms. causing some horrible crunching sounds to the spider's carapace.
There is a strange, high pitched shriek heard by the few men belowdecks that could not be positively attributed to Odric, but the horrified, contorted expression on the big man's face may give some of his more observant companions evidence of his uttering of a Girly Noise as the ichor splashes up in an awful spray.
Grym does his best to focus through the pain of the spider's venom and viciously tries to slay the horrid arachnid w/ his sword.
to hit, damage
Gaius is a child of Korvosa. A ten foot fall is child's play...
Check:
Damage if failed:
Even a spider needs to keep his full attention on its prey. Gaius takes advantage of Grym's positioning and gets in a sneak attack with his rapier.
Rapier: EDIT: +2. I forgot the flank bonus. Attack Roll is 17
Damage on hit:
He'll then step 5' back.
AoO Roll:
Can you sneak attack more than once a round? I'll look that up. Just wondering if my AoOs against flanked critters would be sneak attacks.
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Undoubtedly this is the most action this poor excuse for a ship has seen in decades. Still though, crimson spiders don't grow to this size without a steady diet.
Perhaps the Girly Noise was Odric, but nonetheless the red spider makes a shrieking noise as it launches itself at Odric. It's vermin mind too small to comprehend the danger, only the size of the meal. With a sickening crunch Odric's pick skewers it. Ichor and gore continue to fly, splashing the big man in his face. Nothing but arms and shell remain. Despite his bulk, Odric's views on warming up pay off. He's ready to take the attack to the remaining spiders.
At the same time the antithesis of Odric's form is the deft Gaius. With not a moment to spare he bring's his rapier to bear on the spider as it launches itself towards him damage
Still, Grym is hard pressed, the sickening hip wound is already turning green and purple. The spiders continue their relentless assault.
1 damage on a hit.
1 damage on a hit.
Grym, make a second Fortitude save to shake off the poison. Otherwise you'll take a second point of damage.
Odric, your AoO killed the spider that would have attacked you, so you are safe. Gaius, if your AoO does NOT kill the spider, you're subject to his bite attack:
1 damage on a hit (and Fortitude save.)
OOC: Looks like a crit. Is the damage affected?
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OOC: Looks like a crit. Is the damage affected?
I posted a crit confirmation post. You can make as many sneak attacks per round as you qualify for. I already noted the AoO as I posted it (good thing, yours missed.)
So as of the start of Ferox's initiative, Odric and Gaius have both kiled one spider each, and Grym is being eaten by the remaining two.
Fortitude save
Gaius is severely injured.
Thorgrym grunts as he is bit again.
fortitude save (for the new bite)
fortitude save (for the poison from last round)
SUGGESTION: We post round number at the beginning of each post in combat. That way we can keep track of what is happening when.
I also suggest that if you're injured, and/or have any AC altering effects in place, put that at the head of each combat post. For example, if Morkeleb had taken 2 hp damage and was under the effects of Haste (+1 AC), I'd post
ROUND #
then post actions for the round
HPs 4/13
-1 STR, (possibly more after this round)
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Round 2
Invoking the autopilot rule for Ferox, Morkeleb, and Keftan.
Ferox Round 2 HP: 9/9
From his vantage point, Ferox has a clear line to one of the spiders remaining on Grym. It's a risky shot, and a normal bowman would be taking a great risk shooting at two foes locked in melee, but Ferox is not normal. The inquisitor calmly draws his bow and lets fly, aiming at the thorax of the spider who just sank its mandibles into Grym.
Damage if hit . If it's a miss, less than 50% means the arrow is ruined.
Keftan Round 2 HP: 12/12
While Ferox is trained to shoot into melee, Keftan isn't. With his bow it's an even greater risk. Still, he draws back his bow; his mind's eye balancing the risk between arrow and another bite felling his new companion. With the odds now favoring the Harrowed, he readies a shot. If the spider moves away from Grym, he will let fly.
Readied Action: Damage if hit .
Morkeleb Round 2 HP:8/8
...Situation is currently now favoring us, the logical path is to hold back. No use wasting a bolt. Vermin likely immune to spells. Best to hold back. Net result, delay to take in more information as it comes.
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As the situation becomes increasingly dire the dull weight of panic begins to set into the heroes. An arrow from Ferox slices one of the spiders cleanly. Both the spider and the arrow hit the floor with a thunk. Out of its primitive survival instinct the remaining spider leaps away and moves to skitter across the deck into a hole of rotted wood. Keftan lets fly with his arrow and misses. (ruined on less than a 50: .)
Seeking final vengeance against the spider, Grym finally brings his sword down as the spider turns to flee. It never makes it to the hole, Grym sticks it, twisting his blade left and right to make sure that it's dead.
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Combat Summary
XP: 67 each.
The spiders are laid low. Morkeleb determines that the combat has pushed the barge beyond its breaking point, it's going to sink - and soon. The combat has taken a heavy toll on the party.
Current HP:
Ferox 9/9
Gaius 3/8 -1 STR
Keftan 12/12
Morkeleb 8/8
Ordric 9/12
Thorgyrm 4/13 -2 STR
Does anyone have any healing skill?
Since he is already in the hold Thorgrym peers around in the hold for anything important or useful like a few random vials labeled "Potion of healing", or "spider anti-venom".
Perception roll
If nothing, he then climbs out, climb roll
If Thorgrym has trouble he will pull the rope out of his pack and toss an end up to his comrades on the dock.
OOC: Chris, has the poison run it's course or will it continue?
Gaius climbs out of the boat.
"I suppose we should pick one of the doors and venture on. We are after bigger game than spiders, after all."
Climb:
I bet once we all get a hang of the combat interface, we'll do much better. We're also a really lightly armored party. We have things to figure out.
I strongly suggest that you get off that boat, gentlemen. It's not seaworthy, to coin a phrase. Perhaps Gaius can search it, but everyone else should get off immediately.
I listen carefully to try to determine whether our little brouhaha attracted any attention.
Perception:
Odric grimmaces and starts to rub his aching knee, then seeing Thorgrym's ashen face, bloody hip and putrefying wound thinks better of it. He roots around in his sodden belt pouch and produces a mud-covered vial. He hands it to Grym and nods gravely.
Thorgrym thanks Odric weakly and quaffs the pale blue potion. The two men clasp forearms, Grym, this means you buy the first round back at the tavern when all this is over!
Odric clambers out of the boat onto the dock and crouches next to the building quietly. His boots squish and bubble as he shifts his weight slightly. There is a swampy, mildewy odor emanating from the man. Odric fears that no matter how quiet he is or how stealthily he moves the clinging scent from the ship's hold will give him away. He risks a quick look into a window as he waits for his companions to join him.
Knowing that he's of little use in helping his new companions recover from the attack with the spiders, Ferox follows Odric's example and makes his way to the nearby door(A3).
Stealth:
He listens at the door to determine if any commotion has arisen from the recent fight.
Perception:
Gaius skulks otver to join Odric and Ferox at the A3 Door.
Stealth
He recognizes that Ferox is checking for movement or noise within and will await his signal. If clear, Gaius motions for Ferox to step away from the door and checks for traps and alarms before testing the lock. If the door is locked, Gaius produces his tools and begins to pick the lock.
Perception:
Lockpick w/Masterwork Tools(Disable Device):
Calistria smile upon me.
That bit. If applicable, Gaius retries the lock.
DM: I'll include three rolls here. Use them as you will.
Thorgrym looks in surprise as Odric hands him such a precious potion. However, he humbly accepts it and quickly drinks it.
Thorgrym clasps forearms w/ Odric, Much more then a round of brew.
Grym moves over towards A3 w/ the rest of the group and watches their backs w/ a drawn sword while our Calistran Rogue works his magic.
New stealth roll
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It's as if the brush with death has produced a cohesion in the group. As if this was a comfortable routine they converge on the door. Gaius gives it the lookover. None of the windows lead into this room, as the door is west of the wall in the large room
As Odric and Grym reconnoiter the window, Ferox glides past and listens intently at the door. You can here a man's voice. It sounds like Taldane, but it's hard to tell what he's saying. The fact that there's only one voice leads to to think he's alone...
Gaius approaches the door, tools at the ready. The door isn't locked, and truth be known a lock on such a decrepid door would be like bolting an envelope shut. A swift kick would end this door. The timing is perfect. Your analysis completes as you hear Grym's feet torque into the wood, ready to skewer an enemy on the other side with a swift bolestra.
9/13 hps
Thorgrym nods to the others that he is ready for the door to be opened so they can pour into the room like a rushing wave.
Grym: Your quick scan of the area provides no succor. It's an empty hold. You paid a high price for exploring this ship and it's a shame that Desna laughs. you climb out of the hold without a problem, eager to put this barge behind you.
Morkeleb: When you spend as much energy trying to keep your base of operations looking abandoned and keeping people out, you find that your ability to notice things outside suffers accordingly. Nothing seems to have changed. Your foray into the barge hasn't attacked so much as a dock rat.
Odric: You slide your back up to the side of the building, trying to ignore the fetid stench wafting up from your legs. Taking a moment to catch your breath you turn and peer through the louvers of the window. Inside is a single room at sea level, taking up the whole half of the building. The floor inside is slick with seawater, bits of seaweed, and fish blood - the air is thick and does a competant job competing with the stench you've acquired. Wooden catwalks to the North and South allow access to the western part of the fishery (facing the street). An open bay to the South (your side) allows open access to the muddy waters below. While to the Northwest, stands a ten foot tall wooden vat, its sides caked and waterproofed with tar. What's inside is a mystery as your angle doesn't allow you to look deeper than a few inches. Nearly two dozen children labor in here, gutting and chopping fish. Watching it all is a half-orc taskmaster, his size equal to your own.
Odric feels morally certain his old Brewmaster's son Kip is not among the children gutting fish. He is absolutely positive.
In a whisper, he asks Morkeleb Could you cast a spell on the half-orc, putting him to sleep? It is the middle of the night so the children inside might not think anything strange is afoot as long as he doesn't collapse in a heap.
Once the guard is snoring, we could simply walk in with a sense of purpose and head upstairs. I'm sure if Lamm is here these kids are used to unsavory characters coming and going at all hours.
Looking down at himself and his friends, Odric thinks the term 'unsavory' could definitely apply here, given the roughing up the group took, and the various stages of dishevelment and malodorousness represented here.
Peering into the darkness to judge his companions' reactions to his idea, Odric asks, What do you guys think?
A good plan, Odric. Depending on the layout of the room and where the half-orc is, some of the children may be caught in the area of the spell, but it won't harm them.
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Keep in mind, friends, that while Enchantment is powerful, many of the dweomers can be fought off by a strong mind. There's a chance that this half-orc may resist my spell. ON the other hand, I have trained extensively to fight that kind of willpower, so I'm reasonably confident this should work. If this fails, I suggest taking the guard down as quicklky and quietly as possible. I can still assist in that regard.
I take my staff in a practiced grip. I bring forth a few rose petals from a pouch and gently rub them together between one thumb and forefinger, mentally preparing the components. Ready when you are, gentlemen.