KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

I don't suppose it provoked from Tanith too?

Although his comrades prove ineffective, Eben places an arrow neatly between the monster's eyes.

It gives a whimper and falls.

End combat.

e: After going back to pick up her scroll . . .

Astraden concentrates on the wand and touches Farrukh. The gash begins to scab over, but does not heal entirely.

Wand of cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

She then moves past him to peer down at Mr. Shiny.

Zalamandra reloads, blushing a bit. "I apologize, I wasn't able to contribute much... these creatures were quite distracting for me."

She takes a look at the knocked-out specimen. "Still, I wonder if it would be practical to bring one of these back to the Emporium..."

Farrukh nods his thanks to Astraden.

Eben blinks. "I... actually killed something?" he says, looking down at his bow in disbelief. He slings it over his shoulder, giving a confused shake of his head then wanders over to the edge of the cave and looks down where Mr. Shiny fell out of sight. "What, stuff one and mount it in the freakshow? In case people get bored of ol' Esmerelda?"

Zalamandra looks up at Eben and nods. "Indeed. I think you've taken your first step into a larger world, Eben." She readies her crossbow again, staying back from the edge.

"Certainly. A two-headed cow is one thing. A wolf-hyena monster that can peel the skin on its face back to spook people? Keep it behind a well-defended cage, and I imagine it can draw quite a crowd." She glances back at the downed creatures.

Tanith claps the performer on the shoulder with a meaty paw. ”It’s alright. If you hadn’t killed it, it would’ve killed us. You did good Eben.”

The big man cocks an eyebrow at the madam’s suggestion and gestures deeper into the cave. ”We’ll talk about bringing one of these things home later. Let’s keep moving while these enchantments last.”

Eben tries his best not to go over the edge at Tanith's back-slap.

You can probably stabilize them now, though.

"Yes, it is best to conserve our power."

By the edge, Astraden notices ashes from a small fire along with several crude sleeping mats. And at the edge itself...

A great pit drops into darkness. Crude iron spikes have been driven into the cliff face, offering a convenient path downward. The shaft’s roof is fifteen feet above the cliff’s edge. Jagged stalactites hang from the ceiling.

The spikes lead all the way to the ground, where Mister Shiny stands among loose debris, a few shattered stalactites, and a number of stalagmites.

Zalamandra shrugs her shoulders. "I did mention I'm not sure it would be practical to bring one of them back; I'm fine with leaving them here if they'll just slow us down."

I'd imagine Farrukh would be the one checking out the pit.

Well, Astraden and Eben are the ones that went over. :P

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

"Aw, bugger. Incoming!"

Eben drops prone at the cliff's edge.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Shit! There's more of them across the chasm!"

Realizing they've been detected, the eyeless men rise up out of the rubble and raise their bows.

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 211d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

SURPRISE ROUND: Eben and Astraden are up!

Making sure I've got this right... the ledge is across and down? On the side view, are those 5 or 10 foot squares? If I were to cast a spell with a range of 35 feet, does it reach?

The shifty priestess shimmers and splits into her familiar dual forms.

Surprise round: Cast copycat (standard action). Read magic lasts 298 rounds, comprehend languages lasts 373 rounds, bless lasts 18 rounds, bull's strength lasts 29 rounds, copycat lasts 3 rounds.

Five foot squares. The map is across and down, yes—I included a marker to show where the ledge is.

Three Faces of Evil: Sick of dealing with dozens of Hextorian cultists who are all taking actions offscreen? Have some insane Erythnulian mapmaking!

I can only imagine just how silly the Vecnans are going to get...

Excellent.

Still lying flat on his belly, Eben grabs another chunk of pork rind from his pouch, smears it across his hands, and then blows outward across his palms. "Have a nice trip, guys."

Grease right underneath the two bowmen, DC 14 Reflex

Kind of a shame Tharizdun isn't part of this overgod nonsense. Those would be some insane dungeons.

Reflex Saves: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 171d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

One of the men slips and falls. The other one leans against a stone.

As he gets up, the one that didn't fall takes aim at Eben and fires an arrow.

Longbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

But the grease has him off-balance, and the shot misses.

Round 1: You are up!

Astraden pulls out her crossbow and fires at the one that did not fall.

Heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7 Not including cover; also note that I lose my shield bonus to AC, so I am down to 17/17/10.

Round 1: Retrieve weapon (move action) and shoot (standard action). Read magic lasts 297 rounds, comprehend languages lasts 372 rounds, bless lasts 17 rounds, bull's strength lasts 28 rounds, and copycat lasts 2 rounds.

How climbable does the ledge look?

Eben stands, draws his bow, and shoots at the standing opponent.
Not sure why I went prone in the first place; kind of counter-intuitive for an archer.

shortbow+bless+PBS: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 10
damage+AS+PBS: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 7

Move action: stand up from prone, combined with drawing bow, swift action: arcane strike, standard action: fire

not sure if cover still applies, so subtract 4 from my attack if so.

If you use the spikes, DC 10.

Ever the fool with more balls than brains, Tanith straps his poleaxe to his back and starts the climb down despite the hostile archers with a clear shot.

Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Tanith can apply that roll next round. Sheathing the weapon is a move action, so he makes it two squares.

I totally knew that.

Is Tanith going to be able to climb up there from the ground? The opposite wall has some weird geography going on.

If he can make it up to the upper tunnel, sure—there are more spikes. Making it that far, however, will be tricky, requiring some good checks or good ideas.

Maybe he could throw his dagger instead?

Or did the morlock have a bow or anything?

Gee, I don't think so, Gark. What's a morlock?

In seriousness, yeah, he had a composite longbow. Tanith would have to grab both the bow and arrows, though, since I don't think he's got any ammo. :P

Bah! What kind of wrestler uses a bow?

Sorry, I thought you wanted to be a wrestler, not a pincushion. ;)

I'm just drawing their fire so the party can pick them off. That's totally the plan.

Round 1: Actions
Full-Round Action: Double Move closer to the edge

When arrows and spells start flying again, Zalamandra readies her crossbow and makes her way over to the edge of the pit.

Shield Rounds Remaining: 24/40

Farrukh and Cuetzpalli are up. I'm going to bed—does Tanith still plan to go to the edge?

Assuming he can do so without blocking our team, yeah.

Farrukh moves up towards the edge, sheathing his sword as he moves. He draws his bow when he gets there.

Alternately, sheathes sword and moves, drawing bow as he gets there. Same diff.

Cuetzpalli moves up next to Eben, and fires an arrow across the chasm at the grim/morlock.

Attack (bless): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Cuetzpalli sinks an arrow in the standing monsters' legs. It doesn't seem overly affected.

The eyeless men each let off two rapid volleys, focusing their fire on Eben. Two arrows find their mark.

Longbows: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 151d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 221d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 121d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20
Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (3, 5) + 6 = 14

Round 2: You are up!

Cuetzpalli fires again, and worried about the blind monsters' accuracy and Eben's health, draws upon his inner reserves of adrenaline to fire a third time.

Attack (Bless): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12
AP Attack (Bless): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17

Grrrr. Think they both missed, but just in case.

Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Eben clenches his teeth in pain, but stands his ground and returns fire, aiming a shot at the one Cuetzpalli already hit.

Shortbow+Bless+PBS: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 18
damage+Arcane Strike+PBS: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 6

Action Point!Shortbow+Bless+PBS: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 17
damage+Arcane Strike+PBS: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 5

On the offhand chance that either Cuetz's attacks or my first shot drops one, I target the second one instead. Also, given the map layout, I assume that if I move back ten feet or so they won't be able to see me any longer, right?

Round 2: Actions
Move Action: Move to the edge of the pit
Free Action: Go prone (+4 AC vs. ranged attack, -4 AC vs. melee attack)
Standard Action: Fire crossbow bolt at whichever monster is still standing after Eben's done

Hmm. Those things have good aim for blind monsters.

Taking that into account, Zalamandra reaches the edge of the pit and gets on her belly to make herself a smaller target. She aims her crossbow at Eben's & Cuetzpalli's target/the remaining eyeless one (if the other one is already dead) and fires.

Ranged Attack! PBS & Precise: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Astraden drops her crossbow and begins rummaging in her pack. After just a few seconds, she snatches out the scroll from earlier and scans the text, staring intently down at the aggressors. Suddenly, a booming, shrieking laugh erupts right between them, sending small stones bouncing from its force.

Sound burst damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8 My AC is back up to 18.

Round 2: Drop item (free action), retrieve item (move action) and use scroll of sound burst (DC 13 to avoid being stunned for one round) (standard action). Read magic lasts 296 rounds, comprehend languages lasts 371 rounds, bless lasts 16 rounds, bull's strength lasts 27 rounds, and copycat lasts 2 rounds.

Edit: Oops, copycat lasts FOUR rounds at fourth level. Fixed.

About to head to work for the day. If this goes to another round, and Eben doesn't drop below 0 from repeated arrow punctures, he moves back out of targeting range of the grimlocks, retrieves his wand of cure light wounds, and pokes himself with it.

I wouldn't expect KC on until about 10 pm PST today, so if you keep up the nocturnality you probably don't need to worry about missing a round.