GM Giuseppe's Council of Thieves

Game Master Giuseppe Capriati

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Round 1
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Faustinia winces as Janiven falls, desperately hoping this isn't a sign of their luck deteriorating. She starts to calculate a plan until Baolus barks out his own commands. Not a subtle man, but effective, she thinks.

Grabbing her walking stick, she taps Baolus on the shoulder with it and holds it out to offer its use. ”Would this work? Don't worry, it's sturdy,” she assures before easing back toward the door.

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Move action to draw my quarterstaff, plus whatever action it takes to hand it to Baolus if he wants it. Then a five foot step back.

Baolus smiles as the old woman offers her walking stick, while quickly sheathing his battleaxe, "It will work just fine, ma'am, thank you." He then grabs the walking stick in two hands, flexing his fingers in anticipation for the fight to come. I've been idle for too long... "Come, beast! Come to me!"
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Since Baolus has the Quick Draw feat, I believe he'd be able to take Faustina's walking stick without consuming an action. Nevertheless, he still has a move action to spare.

Damage (quarterstaff/club?), inspire courage, power attack: 1d6 + 4 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 3 = 11

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❶ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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The unfavorable space in which the battle is taking place forces the heroes to wait for a better opportunity to strike at the skeletal wolves.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Janiven stands up, but in doing so she lowers her defenses just enough to allow the closest skeletal wolf to bite at her again. The woman utters a piercing cry of pain as the bones penetrates in her flesh, but she manages to get back on her feet. Resorting to her natural strong will and determination, Janiven endures the pain and steps back very quickly for a wounded woman. Instead of nocking another arrow, and without any bludgeoning weapons at her disposal, Janiven pulls out a potion from her pouch.

It’s just a matter of second before the skeletal wolves chase their quarry: their mindless nature compels them to attack, and they do so blindly. The first one moves forward, allowing Baolus to bring down his axe on it. The ranger strikes violently, but the wolf’s old bones resist to the impact, although several of them break into pieces. As a result, the skeletal wolf turns its attentions to Baolus, but as the undead tries to bite him, the Rundottari steps back and uses his axe to parry the attack. The other skeletal wolf moves frantically in the back of the room, without having enough space to attack.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ INITIATIVE ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Active effects: none

① Janiven(Conditions: injured, 11/24 hp)
② Green Skeleton (Conditions: injured, 7 pts of damage)
③ Pink Skeleton (Conditions: none)
④ Baolus (Conditions: none)
⑤ Petals (Conditions: none)
⑥ Catina (Conditions: none)
⑦ Lady Faustinia (Conditions: none)
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Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

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Round 2
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Petals frets in the back unable to help, instead moving behind the injured woman, steadying her from falling again as blood leaks from her flesh. Weaving her song still through the air, voice gaining more confidence as it fills the room.

inspire courage, 4 of 6 remaining. No mechanical benefit on steadying unless you wish to allow an aid another on her cmd vs trip attacks. 100% fine if you do not, she'll still move up be there.

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Round 1
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Catina looks worried at Janiven taking another hit, although fortunately the woman is back on her feet the big guy is distracting the undead creature. Seeing as how Baolus now has to face the skeletons alone, Catina hopes to bolster his prowess. She touches him lightly on the shoulder, so as not to startle him. "Watch out, please. I can see that you're brave, but you don't have to fight them by yourself. You can step back if they threaten to overwhelm you, and we'll help."

--

Bit of luck on Baolus. He rolls two dice on all d20 rolls this round. Also, Giuseppe, Catina still has 2 damage left from the previous fight.

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Round 2
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Faustinia’s heart races as Janiven screams in pain. Comparing the ineffectual arrow sticking out of the skeleton wolf’s head to her own crossbow bolts, Faustinia opts for a less mundane solution. She points her hand forward, trying to aim past Baolus to the frantic ex-wolf in the back where she has a clearer shot, and conjures a spike of green acid that flies toward the old bones.

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Acid dart @ pink wolf skeleton, inspire courage: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 1 = 14
Acid Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Now with Lady Faustinia's walking stick in his hands, Baolus brings it down into the dead wolf's skull, trying to finish it for good. "I think I can handle this creature for a little while, at least until Jeniven is out of the way..." Baolus answers to Catina, "...if I step back now, there will be to dead dogs chewing at her!"
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Attack (walking stick), inspire courage, power attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 23
Bit of Luck Re-roll: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 7
Damage (walking stick), inspire courage, power attack: 1d6 + 4 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 3 = 11

I'm not sure if the 'walking stick' would work as a club or a quarterstaff, thus being a double weapon... if it is indeed a quarterstaff, please subtract 2 damage from the roll above and add the second attack bellow!
Attack (walking stick), inspire courage, power attack, twf: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 - 1 - 2 = 22
Bit of Luck Re-roll: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 - 1 - 2 = 11
Damage (walking stick), inspire courage, power attack: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Baolus destroys one of the skeletal wolf with a single and powerful blow, then steps forward and brings down Lady Faustinia’s quarterstaff on the other skeleton. Again, Baolus’ strike is quick, accurate and powerful, causing several of the wolf’s bones to shatter. But that’s not enough, since the skeleton its still on its four skeletal legs. Faustinia tries to end it here by unleashing an accurate acid dart at the undead, and although the noble woman is able to hit her target, and the splash of acid corrodes more of the wolf’s bones, the creatures still fights.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❸ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Janiven drops her bow and resorts to one of the sundrods she’s keeping at her belt as an unconvential weapon. She jumps on the skeletal wolf and she brings down the sunrod on it, completing the job started by Baolus and continued by Faustinia. With the last skeleton going down, the combat is over!

---

With the skeletal wolves dealt with, the group members search the room where the undead were kept but the examination does not reveal anything useful. Leaving the room behind, the group re-enters the crypt’s main room and moves on towards the direction followed by Ostengo in his flee. After passing through the area where the party fought the hellish dogs, the group continues through the corridor and turns to follow it. After a few steps, the group finds a flight of ascending stone stairs atop which is a wooden door. The door appears to be closed and the corridor continues past it.

Would you like to open the door and examine the area behind it or continue your path through the corridor ignoring the door?

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Reward: You gain 200 XP each!

Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

Baolus: I ignored your re-rools for the bit of luck bestowed on you by Catina, since she’s acting after Baolus in the real succession of events.

Before leaving the area with the undead wolves, Here, in case we run into things like that again she hands light maces to Baolus, so he can return the walking stick, and to Janiven, even though beating a skeleton to re-death with a sunrod was impressive. I stumbled over them back there

Noticed them when I had read through the suggested starting point by Faustinia, thank you again by the way for that. Unless they were taken back by the people leaving already

Petals bends down in front of the lock A few of us in the... she looks self consciously at Catina well where I grew up... liked exploring, so we picked up a few tricks from some urchins. she pulls out few picks.

Take 20 on Perception to search for traps: 20 + 5 = 25
Disable Device to disarm any traps: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Take 20 on Disable Device to open if locked: 20 + 4 = 24

Barring any explosions or inability or objections from the others, she'll open the door and peak in.

Catina breaths a sigh of relief when the skeletal creatures are dealt with, without any more bloodshed. "You... really seem to know what you're doing, Baolus," she compliments her new companion before turning to Janiven. "Are you all right? You took a pretty bad hit, I think, and it's still bleeding. Here, please let me. Hold my hand." With one hand holding Janiven's and the other on her wound, Catina takes the time for a short prayer. "Blessed Lady, your love is eternal, for those two deserve it, and those who... might not. Janiven here definitely deserves it. We're doing grim work, but all of it is to make Westcrown better, to give the Wiscrani the life they deserve. Please help us tonight, spread your love and warmth."

With her prayer only partially healing Janiven's wounds, Catina looks somewhat disappointed. "I'm sorry. I have a healing potion as well, if you want."

Catina carefully retrieves her glaive and cautiously advances up along with the others. "Be careful," she warns the two newcomers. "We were fighting a tiefling, weird man with his body entirely wrapped in cloth, like a mummy. He escaped as he's still here somewhere. We have to watch our backs."

--

Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 6

I'd give Janiven a potion of Cure Light Wounds as well, if she wants. Also, south door sounds good.

Faustinia receives her staff back with a nod and a 'thank you.' "That was quite impressive. It's a pity that those guard dogs didn't seem to be guarding anything - perhaps we're just lucky that we were able to control how we found them, rather than having them sicced on us. In any case, let's continue."

Cautiously following the hallway past where they were ambushed by the fiendish hounds, Faustinia agrees to check the southern door before continuing. She corroborates Catina's description of the strange bandaged tiefling, adding "He ran down this way, no doubt to lead us into a trap of some kind. Let's keep him waiting - it will make him nervous. Also be aware that he possesses a small amount of magical power. He clouded Janiven's judgement briefly with a bit of trickery, but I wouldn't call it proper magic. More of a nuisance that anything," she scoffs.

When Petals offers to check the door and exercise some "tricks," Faustinia raises an inquisitive eyebrow. "I see..." she replies, skeptical. "Well, I'm sure that will prove useful, in any case." She thinks, I suppose a bit of shady behavior is just something I'll have to put up with. The life of a criminal, even a beneficial one, is odd indeed.

Assuming Petals is indeed correct about the existence of the mentioned maces...

Thank you very much, Petals. I'll gladly put them to use if needed. Baolus then secures the mace (or maces if more than one is available for him) in his belt, alongside his axes. "I also thank you for your beautiful song... never before I've felt such sensation running through my body... it almost seemed as if your voice was helping me to fight better."

With a smirk, Baolus nods to Catina. "Thanks for the compliment, Catina. I've trained for most of my life to fight... it was only fitting for me not to falter in such situation. Of course I had never fought skeleton wolves before, or even skeletons or wolves, but the principles are basically the same: hit hard and not get hit."

After handing the walking stick back to Lady Faustinia, Baolus pays attention to her words carefully. He always learnt to pay attention to both the nobles and the elders, even if for entirely different reasons, and since the woman was both, Baolus did not miss a single word. "Thanks for your wise words, milady. I'll keep that in mind. Would that sort of magic be able to compel me to attack any of you? If so, do not hesitate in knocking be down in such case. I'd not be able to forgive be if I end up with your blood in my hands." Once more Baolus is serious, leaving little place for jokes while he is in 'duty'.

Janiven lets Catina her. "Thank you, Catina. I definetely felt Shelyn's warm embrace. Don't worry about the healing potion. I have a few of those here with me", explains Janiven before drinking one of them.

As the group walks through the corridor, Janiven nods to Lady Faustinia's narration of the fight with the tiefling mummy. "And a very annoying nuisance too" she adds with regard to the tiefling's magic.

---

The southern door is indeed locked, but Petals' agile fingers have no trouble in picking the lock. The door reveals a stairway leading up through a narrow tunnel. After following it, you reach a roughly sawed hole in the floorboards topped by an old door. The door is locked, but again Petals is able to open it without too much trouble. Once you get past the door on the floor, you see a room whose windows and door are boarded up tight. You should be at ground level now, probably in one of the buildings surrounding the temple. Several clues in the room suggest that this once was a shoemaker or cobbler’s place of business. At the center of the room is an overturned table, while a stairway leading to the second floor is on your right.

But there's also something else in the room. A twitching, pale yellow maggot the size of a large dog. A four-jawed mouth twitches and gasps at one end of its pulsating body. The creature immediately attacks you.

---

When the creature attacks, only Baolus and Petals are in the room. The others will need to take a move action in order to place their character in one of the empty squares of the map, if any. If there's not enough space, a character must assume that there's not enough space for him/her to get inside the room and must act while he/she is still below the room.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❶ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Janiven is the first one to react. She darts up the tunnel and through the room, positioning herself on the stairway and firing a precise arrow at the disgusting being. Her shot is accurate, but does not penetrate the creature's body too much. "Anyone know what this thing is?" she calls out as she nock another arrow.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ INITIATIVE ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Active effects: none

① Janiven(Conditions: none)
② Catina (Conditions: none)
③ Petals (Conditions: none)
④ Baolus (Conditions: none)
⑤ Giant Rot Grub (Conditions: injured, 1 pt of damage)
⑥ Lady Faustinia (Conditions: none)
______________________________________________________
Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 cause of bardic knowledge +1

Disgusting is what it isPetals answers Janiven, but then adds Poisonous and disgusting so be careful. she'll include details of their horrific dietary habits later if anyone wants when they are not in threat of dying.

5ft step to the side so others can come up and help them flank then standard to attack
attack with earthbreaker: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
damage if hits: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 = 7

She tries to crush the creature with her hammer, but maybe the fact it is one of the most disgusting things she's seen, leads her to fear what will squirt out of it if she had actually hit.

After handing the walking stick back to Lady Faustinia, Baolus pays attention to her words carefully. He always learnt to pay attention to both the nobles and the elders, even if for entirely different reasons, and since the woman was both, Baolus did not miss a single word. "Thanks for your wise words, milady. I'll keep that in mind. Would that sort of magic be able to compel me to attack any of you? If so, do not hesitate in knocking be down in such case. I'd not be able to forgive be if I end up with your blood in my hands." Once more Baolus is serious, leaving little place for jokes while he is in 'duty'.

Faustinia genuinely smiles for perhaps the first time since entering the ruined temple, enjoying Baolus's respectful tone. "I doubt this hedge mage is capable of such trickery. Besides, one only needs to worry about these things if weak willed--" Faustinia cuts herself off and shoots a look at Janiven, instantly regretting her own implication; "--or merely unlucky. I'm...sure that even I could fall prey to such nonsense if circumstances aligned for it."

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Round 1
==========

Faustinia moves up behind Janiven in time to see the woman's arrow thud into the giant larva. She wrinkles her nose and brow in displeasure, leveling her crossbow at the creature. All she utters is a disapproving "Ugh," before firing a bolt up the stairs, staying behind despite the bad angle so as not to get within biting range.

Light crossbow, firing into melee: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 1 - 4 = 9
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Catina nods at Baolus compliments the elven woman on her song. "Yes, that was indeed very beautiful," she adds, although she sounds a bit reluctant to say it. (That's envy causing the reluctance). She leaves the explanation of the tiefling's magic to Faustinia, intently watching Petals work on the doors instead. She refreshes her simple prayer to add light to her bracelet, using it to illuminate the way as needed.

--

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Round 1
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Hearing the commotion of battle and the previous battle still fresh in mind, Catina pushes past Janiven. "Yuck, that's gross!" is her first and heartfelt, but not very helpful comment. "Poisonous?" is her second comment. "Yikes."

Finding that her glaive is once again not the weapon of choice, this time due to cramped quarters, she draws her mace. She fiddles around to find a grip she's happy with, and then brings it down on the worm-like creature.

Move while drawing weapon, then an attack. I don't know if Catina would be eligable for flanking bonus by the time that she acts. I haven't included the +2 bonus yet.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❶ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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"For Abadar's trimmed beard, this is a pretty big rot grub! Petals is correct... lets finish it fast so it can bite any of us!" Baolus wasn't as fast as the girls around him, but at least he was faster than the giant vermin. In a reflexive move, Baolus drew both his axes, swinging them in unison to create a pretty nasty wound on the center of the creature. When he removed them, with a sickening and wet sound, he hoped for the best.
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Knowledge (nature) DC 13: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 pass

Attack (battleaxe), twf: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 2 = 23
Damage (battleaxe): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Attack (handaxe), twf: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 2 = 16
Damage (handaxe): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❶ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Catina brings down her mace on the giant rot grub: the creature writhes and sprays a disgusting splash of ichor on the tiefling. In the meantime, Petals tries to crush the creature with her hammer, but she fails. Baolus quickly follows with two powerful attacks, both hitting the giant rot grub, making it spray another load of ichor. The disgusting beast counterattack, and tries to bite Baolus, but the Rundottari steps back just at the right time, avoiding the terrific bite. In the meantime, Lady Faustinia fires a bolt from her cover, but her aim, this time, is quite poor.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Janiven fires another arrow at the giant rot grub, and she hits her target again. With a smirk of satisfaction, the woman shouts out a cry of encouragement. “Come on! We almost got it!”

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ INITIATIVE ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Active effects: none

① Janiven(Conditions: none)
② Catina (Conditions: none)
③ Petals (Conditions: none)
④ Baolus (Conditions: none)
⑤ Giant Rot Grub (Conditions: injured, 22 pts of damage)
⑥ Lady Faustinia (Conditions: none)
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Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Bolstered by Jeniven's words, Baolus attacks once more, taking advantage of the momentum he got while evading the creature and delivering a crushing attack with his bigger weapon, even if his second swing was a bit more clumsier.
_________________________________
Attack (battleaxe), twf: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 2 = 16
Damage (battleaxe): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Attack (handaxe), twf: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 2 = 13
Damage (handaxe): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

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Round 2
---------------

The disgusting spray of maggoty juice makes her want to gag, run away, and take a bath, but the rows of evil teeth trying to take a chunk out of her former cellmate makes her slam down the hammer once again instead.

+2 from flanking
attack with earthbreaker: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3) + 3 = 7

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Round 2
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Faustinia continues to scrunch up her face as the grub’s rancid innards spill out. She coughs at the smell, trying not to gag, and reloads and fires off another bolt when she can steady her overloaded senses.

Light crossbow, firing into melee: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 1 - 4 = 6
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

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Round 2
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Catina tries to shield her face as best she can, against the ichor splashing off of the disgusting creature. "Why is this thing here?" she asks as she takes another swing with her mace. "I thought this was some hidden escape route for the Bastards. This can't be their pet, can it?"

--

Attack with light mace, flanking: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Catina’s attack proves too slow and the giant rot grub avoids it by wreathing just in the right direction. Petals goes closer to the target, but she fails to hit the vermin as well. Baolus is luckier, and his first attack hits the giant rot grab with great violence. The attack is almost enough to kill the disgusting vermin, but the Rundottari fails to connect with his second attack, thus missing the final blow and giving the rot grub another opportunity to bite at him. Unfortunately, the vermin is way more accurate this time and it manages to climb onto Baolus’ body and bite his neck: the ranger can feel thousands of razor-sharp teeth delving through his neck as the creature bites again and again, injecting its poison. Also, the giant rot grub has managed to grab Baolus, thus restricting his movement.

Baolus takes 7 points of damage and is now grappled by the giant rot grub. He also needs to attempt a DC 16 Fortitude save or take 1d3 points of damage (roll for it yourself) to his Strenght modifier. The latter is a poison effect.

Trying not to hit Baolus proves to be too hard of a feat for Lady Faustinia to accomplish with her crossbow, and the noble woman fails to hit her target, the bolt she fired flying wide.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❸ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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Not even Janiven is able to put the combat to an end. This time her arrow is not as accurate as the two previous ones and she fails to hit the rot grub.

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ INITIATIVE ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Active effects: none

① Janiven(Conditions: none)
② Catina (Conditions: none)
③ Petals (Conditions: none)
④ Baolus (Conditions: injured, 7 points of damage; grappled; poisoned?)
⑤ Giant Rot Grub (Conditions: injured, 33 pts of damage; grappled)
⑥ Lady Faustinia (Conditions: none)
______________________________________________________
Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❸ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Baolus curses as the vermin bites him. "Damn it! It is almost dead and even so it is able to do this... blasted beast..." Desperately, the rundottari tries to free himself from the creature.
________________________________
Fortitude DC 16: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 pass
Break Grapple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Ugh, I hope it's not laying eggs inside you or anything Petals swears. Not wanting to swing her hammer at Baolus's neck, she draws her short sword and tries to cut the thing off him.

move action to draw the weapon

attack with short sword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
damage if hit: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

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Round 3
==========

Faustinia makes a sour face at Petals from below the stairwell. "Ugh, please, don't even say such horrid things... just kill the beast, please!" Faustinia entreats, shooting another bolt at the wriggling creature.

Light crossbow, firing into melee: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 4 = -2
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

I'm trying Petals protests doing her ever loving best to grab the slimy grub and stab it to tiny pieces It's just too wiggly!

=========
Round 3
=========

Catina shrieks at seeing the large grub latch on the Baolus's neck, and looks queazy at Petal's remark. "Eek!" Her brow furrows and she grips her mace tighter. "Let go of him, gruesome beast. Let go!" She brings her mace down on its body, trying to weaken it enough to release it's hold on her companion.

--

Attack, flanking: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

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⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
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And with a last effort, Catina delivers the final blow to the giant rot grub, causing the vermin to squirt a splash of dense, greenish ichor. Although your clothes are now ruined and foul-smelling, you were able to defeat a very dangerous creature through strength, tactics and cooperation. “Well done, everyone. It seems like we’re really on the same page when it comes to fighting”, says Janiven as she descends the stairs and pats your shoulders.

---

COMBAT IS OVER!

---

Now that the fight is over, the group has some time to search the building for clues, information and, possibly, treasure. Your research strengthens your original impression that this was the house and shop of a shoemaker.

After performing a thoroughly exam of the shoemaker’s house, the group leaves the building and returns in the tunnel below.

If you want to heal or do anything else, this is the right moment. Also, I need to know what light sources you’re currently using.

This time, you turn right. After a few steps, the corridor opens into a larger area, similar to a cavern. The walls here appear to have been dug recently. Two corridors depart from the cavern, one on the northwest and the other on the north. Another, larger corridor continues to the east. There’s not any sound in here, nor any other clue that could help you make up your mind about your next direction.
______________________________________________________
Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

Reward: You gain 200 XP each!

Catina hurriedly puts away here mace, then hustles over to Baolus. "Oh Gods, that's a nasty wound. Does it... Does it hurt a lot? You weren't poisoned, were you?" She makes a motion to feel at the wound, then sees her unnaturally longer fingers and retreats her hand. "I'm sorry. If you need healing, I ah... Well, my spells are mostly gone, but I have a healing potion if you need." She fumbles at her belt, embarrassed that she didn't have more healing magic of her own to offer.

If you want, Catina offers one of her potions of CLW. She has three, so enough to go around. Roll yourself, if you take it.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Catina takes a deep breath to summon courage before rummaging through the remains in the room. "Poor fellow. All of this because those tiefling thugs needed another entrance for their hideout?" She sighs. "How could they be so callous... I hope the girl at the front door didn't have anything to do with that. Hey, what's this?" Catina holds up a small emerald in her slender fingers. "Think it's worth something?"

--

As they make their way back, Catina retrieve her glaive once again. "It seems like it isn't really suited to fighting in cramped quarters like there," she offers to no one in particular. "It quite different, to work the forms in the large hall at the temple, or in small rooms like there." With a tough to the glaive and a short prayer, she renews the Light spell on her weapon. At the crossroads in the tunnels, she looks at the others. "So, your guess is as good as mine, I think. Should we cut back? Or take the largest corridor first?"

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Good work, Catina Petals exclaims, happy beyond happy that this is dead. When Catina offers the potion to Baolus, she says I can help a little., casting her own prayer, letting warm light into the bleeding wound, divine words with arcane energy.

cast cure light wounds

clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Down in the corridor walking next to Catina, she'll relate about weapons. My hammer as well, though not as bad. Every time I swung it in there I was either a hitting a wall or almost hitting one of you. she smiles Still you are the one that killed it giving a slight bow to her Thank you.

When it finally stops moving, Baolus grabs the vermin and throws it away from him, causing it to hit the wall and stain it with its goo. His heart pounds in his chest and he has some trouble to discern if he has been poisoned or not. "No... I think I have not. As far as I remember, this maggot's poison weakens ones strength, but I don't feel weaker at all..."

When he stops to focus only on himself, he notices the girl's uneasiness. "You should not be ashamed for not being able to heal me, Catina. It was my fault that I was injured, not yours, and even if it was, I'd not hold you responsible."

He was about to accept her potion, though, when Petals offered herself to heal his wounds, and soon he felt the energy closing his wounds, quite different than the one he felt when the half-elf prayed for Iomedae's power. This one is much more subtle and joyful...

---

Baolus eyes the emerald with curiosity, never having seen such kind of stone. "I believe it does, quite a lot, but I have no expertise or idea about it... do you think it pertained to the owners of this shop, or was a product of thievery? If it is the former, it would be nice if we could return it to its former owner."

---

When asked about his opinion, Baolus points to the closest passage. "I'd take this one, for I don't like the idea of allowing them to pincer us..."

Vote for the southwest passage in the map.

Catina has some trouble accepting Petal's praise. "Well, I think the rest of you did most if it. My hit must just have been the final push," she says with a shrugging motion.

Baolus's explanation doesn't sit quite well with her either. "I'm not sure say of us would have been able to hold off a huge slug like that. Except maybe if you were using a shield? Lorenzo does, although I'm not sure it actually gives him decent protection if he's swinging it about like he usually does." She sounds impressed and disapproving at the same. "Wouldn't you want to use a shield?"

When it comes time to pick a direction, Catina easily agrees with Baolus to cut back.

That's bottom-left on the map. From Giuseppe's explanation, I don't think North is up, on this one.

Baolus's explanation doesn't sit quite well with her either. "I'm not sure say of us would have been able to hold off a huge slug like that. Except maybe if you were using a shield? Lorenzo does, although I'm not sure it actually gives him decent protection if he's swinging it about like he usually does." She sounds impressed and disapproving at the same. "Wouldn't you want to use a shield?"

Baolus warms warmly. "In the military, it is not always like you described... it is a gamble, like different strategies to win a game, in this case, a fight. You are completely correct that using a shield would give me more protection, but it would also hamper my speed and attacks. When someone uses a shield, he is preparing himself for a long game, where you better protect yourself, but also gives your opponent more chance to retaliate... when you use two weapon, like I do, or one big weapon, like you or Petals, you are easier to hit, but you'll bring your opponent down faster... does that makes sense at all? I was never really good with instruction."

You decide to cut back and follow another dark and narrow corridor until you encounter yet another wooden door. This time, the door is not locked. Past the door is a stairway leading up toward the surface before stopping in front of a vertical rock wall with a wooden ladder leaning against the wall. Above your heads, you can see a circular hole chopped in the floorboards. Most likely, if you climb the ladder, you’re going to access another one of the buildings surrounding the temple. Baolus starts climbing first, followed by Petals, Catina, Lady Faustinia and Janiven. As soon as the ranger’s reaches the hole, he just needs to push a square inverted table away in order to gain access to the room above. As his head pops up Baolus is able to discern the room’s interior.

The ground-floor window is boarded up, but the boards are of quality wood and cut very evenly. There’s a stairway leading to second floor. The first floor has a large table, scarred with many nail-holes, gouges from carving tools, and similar wear. Tiny nails, a finishing hammer, and several incomplete wooden chairs clutter the corners.

In the center of the room, two creatures you’ve seen before appear to have been waiting for your appearance: two skeletal wolves, ready to pounce on you!

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❶ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
There’s something in Janiven that allows her to always be the first to react to danger. In this case, she almost seems to anticipate the danger. Before Petals can even start climbing the ladder after Baolus, the woman quickly enters the room where the ranger is in. As soon as she spots the skeletons, Janiven uses a mace retrieved from the defeated tiefling thugs to attack one of the skeletal wolves, but the frenzied climb appears to have drastically reduced Janiven’s concentration, and her attack misses wildly.

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ INITIATIVE ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Active effects: light (cast by Catina on her glaive’s tip; 5 rounds remaining), dancing lights (cast by Lady Faustinia in the room as soon as Baolus moves away the table from the hole)

① Janiven(Conditions: none)
② Catina (Conditions: none)
③ Lady Faustinia (Conditions: none)
④ Skeleton Wolves(Conditions: none)
⑤ Baolus (Conditions: none)
⑥ Petals (Conditions: none)
______________________________________________________
Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

With the giant bug squished, Faustinia sighs with relief. She uses her magic to clean up their group as soon as she's sure it's safe. ”I knew we were taking on a dangerous task, but I thought it might prove less disgusting than when we had to wade through the sewers. I suppose I never realized how literal ‘getting one's hands dirty’ for matters of import was…”

==========
Round 1
==========

Faustinia climbs up after Janiven, although not so spryly as the younger woman. Once at the top, she faces the skeletal creatures with confidence and conjures a dart of acid toward the undead beast Janiven attacked.

Acid dart vs touch AC, firing into melee: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 1 - 4 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Catina furrows her brow as they find another ladder. "We won't find another of those gruesome worms, do we? Please be careful if we do, Baolus. You might be right about that thing with the long game, but I'm not sure if a creature like that thinks in those terms."

Her suspicion doesn't actually come true when Baolus pops into the room, but it's not too far from it. "Oh, no..."

--

========
Round 1
========

Catina follows after Janiven into the - former - woodworker's home. She hefts her glaive, but is already stuck against the back wall. With a sigh, she puts it down and draws her mace. "Here we go again."

Move action up the stairs, move to draw weapon.

========
Round 1
========

when it is petals turn

Petals worries about the noises up above, fearing it is another maggoty thing, almost relieved when she hears it is more bone wolves. She hurry up the ladder when she gets the chance, trying to bash whatever remains at that point.

not going more her in the map, since Baolus and the wolves go before her, just place her if you wish or I can once I see where she can go, either or

attack with earthbreaker: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
damage if hit: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 1) + 3 = 9

SHE HITS SOMETHING!!

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❶ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"Hum, more wolf skeletons..." Baolus simply states as he moves to face this new challenge, already drawing his twin maces previously provided by Petals.

After stepping closer, Baolus attacks in quick succession, battering the skull and sending cracks along it. Thanks to Catina's blessing, his job is made so much easier, enabling him to put more strength in his blows.
________________________________
Free action to draw both maces, 5 foot step, full-round action.

Attack (light mace), power attack, twf: 1d20 + 6 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 1 - 2 = 20
Bit of Luck re-roll: 1d20 + 6 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 1 - 2 = 9
Damage (light mace), power attack: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Attack (light mace), power attack, twf: 1d20 + 6 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 1 - 2 = 13
Bit of Luck re-roll: 1d20 + 6 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 1 - 2 = 19
Damage (light mace), power attack: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

Baolus and Petals are quick to destroy the skeletal wolves, also thanks to Catina’s blessing. Baolus needs two strikes in order to put the first wolf down, while Petals just need one. In the blink of an eye, the skeletal wolves turn to dust.

COMBAT IS OVER!

With the skeletal wolves quickly dealt with, the group explores the building. As Catina imagined, several clues scattered around the two-story building reveal that this once was the house and shop of a carpenter. The upstairs level has a well-crafted bed (slept in no later than a month ago), chair, and small table, but aside from that, there’s not anything useful in this building.

---

After exploring the carpenter’s house, you descend again in the tunnel below and quickly reach the main corridor again. Now you can choose to go left and follow another narrow corridor or to continue straight ahead following a larger corridor.
______________________________________________________
Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

Reward: You gain 200 XP each!

Brushing off bone fragments is much better than maggot puss Petals says happily, then a little more subdued asks Do you think they are still alive? hoping they were just driven out even though she has grave doubts about that.

She whispers a brief prayer before going back down the ladder.

Catina looks incredulous at Baolus and Petals, mace raised as if to strike but without any targets anymore. "I ah... I think it see what you meant about that different strategy, and not really having use for a shield. You too, Petals. That's a really big hammer. And pretty, too."

As they take to the task of searching through the carpenter's home, Catina picks up on Petals' subdued tone. "I think they made it out OK. Otherwise we would have seen more signs of violence, I think. Or... or bodies." She puts a hand on the elven woman's shoulder. "Fleeing their home must have been tough, but I hope they're fine. Somewhere. Maybe when this is all over, the carpenter can go back to his home."

--

When they're done in the building, Catina retrieves her glaive, recasts the blessing of light, and follows the others down again. "So, the left this time? I do hope we won't find any more home like that..."

In the few minutes since defeating the wolves, as they all searched the house and returned to the tunnels in the old temple, Faustinia has been utterly silent. Her brow is furrowed, mouth in a deep frown. If Faustinia directed this look at a person, it would no doubt wither anyone intimidated by her imperious bearing. However, her eyes are focused in a way that doesn't fall upon anything she can see - she's clearly in her own head.

”Yes, let's head left from here,” Faustinia agrees with Catina once they're all back in the tunnels. Her tone is distant, almost perfunctory as she thinks deeply. Then, seeming to wake up from her meditations, she adds, ”When we first discovered the tunnel to that cobbler’s house and found that horrific grub, I thought we had merely found the back door - seemingly unused, unless that creature was put there by one of these criminals. But a second tunnel to a ransacked home? I thought this was a hideout for tieflings, but it's turning out to be a rat’s nest. I'm concerned that wiping out these murderers won't be as simple as we initially thought. Hopefully Arael and the others can pick off the stragglers as they intend - otherwise I worry that this infestation will return.”

Baolus is pretty satisfied with the result of using concussive weapons to fight skeletons and also happy for Catina having understood his 'teachings'.

Back to the underground tunnel, Baolus nodded to Catina and Lady Faustinia. "I also agree to follow the path you mentioned, since it follows the same logic I've pointed before... and I also share your worries, milady. To be completely honest, I'm not even sure if the man you are looking for is still in this nest, for it could have already left to the open city above." Baolus shrugs before moving to the other tunnel.

The tunnel to your left is very similar to the previous ones: it is narrow and dark, and after a hundred feet it ends in front of a wooden door. The door is not locked, and once you open it you see that the tunnel continues past it for about 50 feet before ending in front of a verical wall against which a ladder has been disposed. Over your head you can see another hole in the floorboard of what is likely to be another building. As always, Baolus climbs the ladder first. Once he reaches the top of the ladder, he finds that something prevents him from accessing the room above–not a reversed table this time, but a reversed tower shield. It takes a bit of effort from Baolus to lift the shield and push it aside, but this time the process doesn’t go smooth as before. The ranger can feel something is wrong from the start, the first clue being that the magical light on the tip of his axe abruptly stops radiating light as soon as Baolus emerges into the room. The entire place is covered in darkness, a darkness humans’ eyes cannot penetrate. But shadows never come alone. The eerie sound of grinning teeth precedes a sudden attack: three bolts or arrows pierce the darkness, all of them aiming for Baolus. Two of them hit the target. Baolus must hold back a shout of pain when one of the bolts pierces his chest, almost perforating his lungs. Another arrow, or perhaps a bolt, hits the ranger in the belly.

Ouch! Baolus takes 21 points of damage!

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❶ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Once again, Janiven is the first one to react. “There’s something wrong with this one…” she had whispered right before Baolus entered the room and was assaulted. She was right. Shaking her head around herself, Janiven tries to decipher the situation. “Baolus is under attack! We must help him! But I can’t see anything up there…I go there with him. You think about a solution” bravely states the woman before climbing up the ladder and joining Baolus in the fray. Unfortunately, she cannot see anything just like the Rundottari. “Baolus, Baolus!”, Janiven whispers in the dark, trying to find her companion with her hands. Without success. Then a moan of physical pain leads the woman to Baolus. The ranger can feel her hands in the dark. “Everything is gonna be alright, Baolus. Take this”, says Janiven putting a healing potion in the Rundottari’s hands.

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ INITIATIVE ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Active effects: darkness (5 rounds remaining)

① Janiven (Conditions: none)
② Petals (Conditions: none)
③ Baolus (Conditions: injured, 1/22 hp remaining)
④ Catina (Conditions: none)
⑤ Lady Faustinia (Conditions: none)
⑥ Enemies (Conditions: none)
______________________________________________________
Deadline: 08:00 P.M. GMT +2.

"the eerie sound of grinning teeth", that is awesome!

Petals hears the wet thunk of Baolus' flesh being hit and doesn't think about the tactical blunder of running (or climbing) into a dark room filled with people wanting to kill them. Once there and unable to see she has nothing to hit so she tries to distract the attackers.

casts ghost sound from somewhere to the left as far as she can send it out.

The sounds of several (4) people moving about and chatting softly
Hey I think I found another way in. excited ghost voice #1
We'll get those tiefling scum now a gravely laugh from angry ghost voice #2
I hope the other group is still okay whimpered worry from pansy ghost voice #3
Get ready to throw that alchemist fire, boys. I smell me something ahead. over eager female ghost voice #4

==========
Round 1
==========

”What's going on up there?” Faustinia shouts as Baolus and his light disappear into the darkness above. She grits her teeth in frustration as Janiven rushes up the ladder as well. Faustinia clutches her cameo necklace, concentrating, and draws on an extra reserve of power as Nicklod taught her. As she does so, she begins a spell, muttering vocative syllables.

I'll use my arcane bond to start casting summon monster I.

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❶ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

Baolus yells back to the others. "No, don't come! Its a trap and a killing field! Retreat to the tunnels!" Feeling the potion in his hands, Baolus jumps out of the room while drinking the potion.

The curative effects of the potion were far more weaker than he had expected, making him even more worried. "There is no winning here... we'll be dead in less than a minute..."
_________________________________
Cure Light Wounds Potion: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

With at least three tieflings most probably sneak attacking each round, with no way for us to pierce their darkness, to withstand until it lasts, and no way to strike back, we'll see one of us die each round!

========
Round 1
========

Catina is tight as a wound-up spring when Baolus climbs the ladder, picking up on Janiven's unease. She freezes at the man's cries of pain and only comes back to her senses when she sees him return from the ladder, alive if badly hurt. Realizing what's happening upstairs, and with both Janiven and Petals already there, she shakes her head at Baolus' call for retreat. "If it's dark, that doesn't bother me," she says to no one in particular, sounding both surprised and determined. "I can do this. I can..."

Without hesitation, she climbs up the stairs, holding her breath to see when the blessing of light on her glaive is extinguished. If only I hadn't spent my prayer of Sanctuary. They wouldn't have been able to attack me...

When she's upstairs, she takes a quick look around to take stock of the situation. She tries to articulate as well as she can what she sees, for the benefit of the two women there with her. Trying to even the odds, she swings her glaive at the first target within reach.

--

I can't see the map, but I think the gist of my actions is clear. I'll relay the location of all enemies to Petals and Janiven, then make an attack if possible. If I can't reach anyone with a glaive attack due to right quarters, Catina will use Dazing Touch instead. In that case, the attack roll below will be a touch attack.

Glaive attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8