Vi grinned at Bronwyn's congratulations; she felt pretty proud of that shot. However, the situation was still dangerous in the extreme, and she knew they had to get out of harm's way.
"Squeak, how do you say, 'Hello, anybody here?' in lizard language?"
Squeak thought for a moment, then made a series of noises that sounded like a a leaking bellows exploding in an ironmongery.
"Of course, that's in the formal inferior-to-superior present tense grammar." Squeak offered, before making another series of noises. "...might be more apropos"
Squeak moved to form a wall of adamantine between the fleshy members of the group and the poison users. "Palisade, provide cover." he called to the group as he readied a crossbow, then turned his attention to the small lizardmen.
"Flee, submit or be consumed" he called in draconic (emphatic superior-to-inferior present tense grammar).
"Tactical doctrine is clear" Squeak interjected quietly. "Prioritise targeting spellcasters - or as Chief Ginnum used to say 'Geek the mage first'."
"We should head towards the chanting, in case it is a ritual - though I suppose it could be a choir."
Everyone: Tim (Squeak) told me that he's still busy with course work. He expects to be above water as soon as next Monday or as late as November 11.
I told him that we would not wait for Squeak to post but rather put Squeak on cruise control.
Questions?
Game on!
Vi hurried inside with the others, then peeked around the corner to make sure the enemy weren't following.
When it was clear that they were safe for the time being, she took a moment to return to her Mei'Vi Face. After all, nobody was supposed to be in here at all, so pretending to be the "wrong kind" of lizard wouldn't help them, and those clawed hands were pretty awkward.
As she donned her clothes again, she said, "Hmm...growling or chanting. Neither are good. But I think Squeak is right - take care of the potential magic users. If it's a ritual, it's not going to be for bountiful harvest or anything nice like that."
"I'll take a peek and see if I can see anything. You guys stay just around the corner here." The elf moved softly towards the chanting, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was going on.
I'll give Palisade some time to post and recap later today.
Questions?
Game on!
"Hmm...growling or chanting. Neither are good. But I think Squeak is right - take care of the potential magic users. If it's a ritual, it's not going to be for bountiful harvest or anything nice like that."
"Agreement. We should not ignore the obvious danger. Nor should we take too much time, for the smaller variety of hostile lizards may overcome their fear of the temple to attack us, or find a chieftain or a shaman who they fear more than the temple that can compel them to enter."
As the changeling moved on to scout ahead Palisade readied its shield and mace, in case something observed the scout and disagreed with her enough to give chase.
Vi gestured frantically to Bronwyn, then stepped just out of sight. When the 'forged made to follow her, she motioned for them to stop - they were much too loud to sneak up.
When the mage tiptoed over, Vi leaned over and whispered, "Are they casting something? Or is that just a song?"
Bronwyn's motion echoed Vi's order to the 'forged to stay and she crept gracefully over to Vi. She made sure that both Palisade and Squeak could see her at all times so that they didn't move forward out of panic. She cocked her head to the side to hear the chanting better and tried to identify the cadence of the words.
Squeak looked to Palisade, readied his crossbow and tensed to run.
OOC: I'll elaborate later but it just seems to be a song (which you don't understand) although you do see a shimmering similar to your mage armor around the 'main priest'.
Game on!
Vi crept back to the others. "Three of the big ones, singing we think, not conjuring. Should I check out the other corridor, just in case? Or should we sneak attack the cleric type folks?"
OOC: I'll hold off recapping until a course of action has been decided upon.
If nothing is decided by tomorrow then I'll decide for you. :)
Questions?
Game on!
Bronwyn looked doubtful, "I'm not sure that we're in any form to take on three blackscale lizardfolk. My most powerful magicks are gone unless I rest and both Palisade and Squeak look like a stiff breeze could knock them over."
The wizard tentatively asked, "Shouldn't we just sneak around for now and try to find the relics without disturbing the singing lizards?"
Bronwyn looked doubtful, "I'm not sure that we're in any form to take on three blackscale lizardfolk. My most powerful magicks are gone unless I rest and both Palisade and Squeak look like a stiff breeze could knock them over."
The wizard tentatively asked, "Shouldn't we just sneak around for now and try to find the relics without disturbing the singing lizards?"
Palisade straightened at Bronwyn’s tone. ”Lady d’Deneith. Both this one and unit Squeak have enough mass that no mundane wind will be likely to knock us over,” it answered in what it choose to believe was a whisper. ”Amended. Unless the wind is hurricane-strength and possibly carrying around pieces of wood or livestock,” it added after a short pause. ”Although this one has not personally witnessed such a wind strength, it has heard the feat mentioned several times by people who seemed trustworthy sources of information.”
”Tactical assessment. Every lizardfolk we have met thus far has been hostile to us. We have invaded a temple they obviously believe to be holy, despite it not being consecrated to the Creator-Goddess, misled creatures that they are. This one believes it unlikely these three individuals will prove more agreeable than their kindred, as their presence inside these premises suggests they are of higher statue within their religious framework. However, if these three individuals seem content to keep to their sermon we should investigate the other corridor, if only to avoid allowing ourselves to be flanked when engaging the three priest-type enemies.”
OOC: I'll recap with you investigating the other corridor unless I hear otherwise.
Questions?
Game on!
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
Yes, it is the blued-out chamber to the west. Vi did look since there is no door but didn't see anything since the area has walls blocking out some view. Vi then was drawn to the noise further west.
Guys: remember that combat also involves tactical retreats to get advantages. I don't think this party is made up to just push everything with brute force.
Questions?
Game on!
I never said it was an easy decision.
I'll try to keep my knowledge as DM separate... but as a player, I have: a) 5 blackscales (at least because not everything has been explored) inside a temple with not too many places to run or b) unknown number of poisondusk with the entire jungle to run and hide.
I know what Fabian the player would want to do but it's your game and good stories are told when heroes do unexpected things so...
Long way to say 'up to you'. :)
Questions?
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The temple is for blackscales (8' tall) so a warforged enlarged to twice their size (12'?) should be able to maneuver around the temple. I would let an enlarged warforged carry both Bronwyn and Vi not the other warforged.
I don't follow you about this 'tactfully retreat' is.
Questions?
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Vi has already been noticed.
Ah... understood. :)
In any case, I don't think you would have enough time to cast those two scrolls because that lizardfolk is already chasing Vi...
Questions?
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Yep, I get that but that last critter went down without an issue because Vi got a critical with her sneak attack. Good shot Vi! :)
You also need to consider that you expended some of your abilities already and that two of you are seriously hurt.
If I were to help you... who? me? :)
I would say that on a relative scale: fighting two blackscales is 0.75, fighting three blackscale casters is 1.0, and fighting the little lizards would be 0.75.
However, keep in mind that silence is no longer an option so you would likely face five lizards inside the temple 'within a couple of rounds'.
And that going outside is not necessarily a fight. We could have a jungle chase scene for example.
More questions?
Game on!
Instinctively, Vi reached for her bow, then registered the shout from behind a wall. Traveller's Tits! They'll bring the whole place down on us!
Backpedalling quickly, she ran back to the others. "No good! I was spotted, and there's at least two. They'll have those other three on us in a blink. I think we need to scram outta here, heal up, and make a plan."
"The little ones are out there, so let's just run for the trees, and circle around to number 167 after we've lost them. Ready?"
Those rolls were for Turn 34 when you explored the 'east' side of the temple.
I rolled again when you went to explore the 'west' side of the temple (see Turn 35 above).
Questions?
Game on!
Doh! Shari also explained my idiocy. Sorry - should never doubt the GM!!
Doh! Shari also explained my idiocy. Sorry - should never doubt the GM!!
No, no, no! Always check up on the GM! :)
You need to make sure the GM didn't make a mistake. The GM has two games running with 10 PCs and multiple NPCs to take care so any help is appreciated.
BTW, it looks like the action has been decided (run like hell!). I'll wait until a couple of other PCs post in concurrence with Vi's plan and I will then move things along.
Questions?
Game on!
"Retreat called!" Squeak announced, his speech suddenly the brief, abrupt calls of battle-cant "Objective in danger. Palisade: Point. Squeak: Rear. Vi, B: Go, now."
Even as he shouts Squeak made his way to just outside the temples door, reached into his pouch and shook a handful of large vials at once "10...9..."
Assuming the others were obeying past he frantically placed the first vial on the wall, where it stuck [b]"8...". Without pausing he stuck the next one - turned from clear to white - on the other side "7... 6..." A moment later he placed the last vial - foam bubbling past the tightly sealed stopper - on the top of the arch, stretching to reach it "5... 4..."
Squeak turned and ran with a speed surprising for such a heavy 'Forged. He never looked back as he plunged over the cobbles, but behind him the vials cracked, foamed and then exploded in fountains of sticky, stretchy white residue that hardened instantly on contact with the air.
I'm sure some lizardfolk will make it through, but if they have any sense they'll stop to regroup. If we're lucky they are big enough the first one through will jam up, and the others will be stuck behind them.
They may also use some caution, if they're not sure what this is :)
There's a nasty higher level variant on web that uses poison in Pathfinder, and we do have a fire mage with us.
"My Meringue surprise!" he complained mournfully.
Bronwyn was all too willing to retreat. If she hadn't already used her most potent magicks or if the 'forged weren't so hurt then she may have thought otherwise but as it was, it seemed like the best course of action. She readily followed Palisade without a word of protest.
"Suggestion for our next retreat." Squeak called out to his companions "We set up a trapped area, and run back through it. With luck our pursuers will follow and be injured. Something like that would be very handy right now."
I mean obviously he's going to put himself between Brownyn and the lizards, but is he also going to shield Vi? ;P
Q2: If Palisade Shield Rushes the undergrowth, presumably it would be much harder to get through - but would it make it easier for those following? Squeak is considering yelling it out, but I am not sure how good a bulldozer Palisade makes.
Good questions...
Poison works like this: a) poison damage and/or b) poisoned condition.
Poison damage is straight hitpoints for which warforged have resistance meaning they take 50% damage.
Poisoned conditioned requires a CON save. If you fail, you have disadvantage for ability checks and attack rolls until a short rest (or removed otherwise). Warforged have advantage on this saving throw.
Standing or running behind Bronwyn would give Bronwyn half-cover (+2 to her AC).
If Palisade successfully mows through the thorny bush then the others behind him have advantage to do the same.
Remember that if you stay and shoot then you only move 30' that round.
More questions?
Game on!
Yeah, that sounds doable but it would depend on what sort of spell and you would get some sort of penalty perhaps...
I imagine it would be a rough ride so a firebolt would be shot with disadvantage for example.
Questions?
Game on!
"Suggestion for our next retreat." Squeak called out to his companions "We set up a trapped area, and run back through it. With luck our pursuers will follow and be injured. Something like that would be very handy right now."
"Respectful. Sound tactical advice, unit Squeak," Palisade said, once again thankful that the Goddess-Crator had notmade it so it'd require to breath, thus making conversation even during intense physical execise effortless. "Lasy d'Deneith. A question. Would you prefer to be carried, or would you prefer this one to try to clear a trail for you to follow? This one believes the size and mass of its body would make it suitable for both endeavors."
Straight up STR check; athletics seems reserved for climbing, jumping, and swimming.
Questions?
Game on!
Vi ran.
For a brief moment she was jealous that nobody offered to carry her, but then she heard Bronwyn trying her magical mumbo jumbo while being bounced on the 'forged's shoulder, and reconsidered. Her friend would be black and blue when this was done. If we're not shot with poison first.
The jungle was thick and dim compared to the brightness of the clearing. Vi hadn't appreciated how well-maintained the trail had been until she decided to run across the jungle without one. I seeming wall of evil-looking shrubbery loomed before her, and she leapt into the air, hoping there wasn't anything nasty on the other side. She cleared it easily, and glanced over her shoulder to see how the others were doing.
So far the others were holding up, so Vi continued her dash through the jungle.
[dice=acrobatics]1d20+6
Of course. :)
Vi: your cunning action allows you to move (move action), dash (cunning action), and 'do something else' (regular action).
If you don't do something and use your regular action to dash (like at least Palisade and Squeak will do), I won't penalize you but you'll pull ahead by 30' from the group.
This is fine by me; I just wanted to make you aware of it.
Questions?
Game on!
Unlike Vi, Palisade made little effort to slip past obstacles unhindered. Quite the opposite, the heavily-armored and massive 'forged intentionally put itself in the path of low branches and thorny bushes, its shield now held with both arms to protect its body, hoping to make the going easier for Bronwyn, who ran between it and Squeak, protected from both sides by the 'forged's bulky bodies. And while at first its efforts were fiercely opposed by roots that sought to trip it and bushes that turned out to be a lot more resilient than they had looked like to the 'forged, it learned and adapted, accepting the damage as payment for the lesson.
Bronwyn was about to become deeply offended that Palisade ask if she wanted to be carried because she wasn't a child. However, in that moment she had an idea which changed her mind.
Holding up her arms she ordered, "Carry. But I need to be at the back. Let's see how well our pursuers dodge fire."
Once in position with her hands free, she began to regret her decision. She was bouncing against metal which was very unpleasant. But this had been her idea so she couldn't complain without admitting she was wrong. She bit back some grumbling but a small groan escaped from her lips. Stubbornly, she set her jaw, got her hands into position and began speaking the words to shoot flames from in between her hands at those behind them.
Seeing that she was about to pull ahead of her friends, Vi spun on her heel, nocking an arrow as she did so. Aiming at the leader, as best she could through the heavy foliage, she loosed her shot. However, her arrow sailed harmlessly through some leaves, disappearing forever. Cursing, Vi turned and ran again.
No disadvantage but the range is 'sucky', only 15'.
I'll have Bronwyn hold on to the spell until someone is within range (not this round) unless I hear otherwise.
So marching order is: Vi, Squeak, and then Palisade carrying Bronwyn. Bronwyn would not get the half-cover benefit in this scenario.
Questions?
Game on!
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, pass