Zo nods, tucking away her tools into her haversack. "Then we should be the group to stay here and wait while Rhade takes the others back around to the east. They already know we're in here, but Rhade might have a chance of surprising them from the other side." She glances at Gregori. "Our knight in shining armor is too easy to hear coming."
"That does sound reasonable. Ignacious with one group, myself with the other. Zo with one, Rhade with the other. And finally Gregori with one group and Father Meghdad with the other. That seems to be a fairly rounded party in each."
She thinks for a second. "How about Gregori, Myself and Zo in one Group. Rhade, Ignacious and The Father in the other?"
"Not a problem with me," Rhade nods back.
"Not a problem with me," Rhade nods back."That does sound reasonable. Ignacious with one group, myself with the other. Zo with one, Rhade with the other. And finally Gregori with one group and Father Meghdad with the other. That seems to be a fairly rounded party in each."
She thinks for a second. "How about Gregori, Myself and Zo in one Group. Rhade, Ignacious and The Father in the other?"
"I'll take point, Ignacious watch your step," Rhade nods back.
"I'll take point, Ignacious watch your step," Rhade nods back.
"All right," Father Mehgdad intones, "why don't you take the lead then, Ranger, and we'll follow you. Master Ignacious, why don't you stay in the middle. I may be old, but at least I have my armor." The priest stretches out his arm, indicating for Rhade and Ignacious to walk on ahead.
With Rhade in the lead, followed by Ignacious and Father Meghdad, half the group leaves the harpy-infested dining room and heads back through the hallway to the south. They turn to the east and make their way through the bedroom and into the closet which adjoins it.
Rhade scouts ahead, wary of the kobolds in the north-eastern corner room. When he pokes his head around the corner, however, he is greeted by an empty chamber. It contains rubbish and refuse, but no kobolds.
The only other exit to the room seems to be an archway leaving to another room to the west. Unless it is just a closet, it should lead to a room directly next to the dining room.
Back with the other group, Zo hears some skittering coming from the southern-most door to the west. It sounds as if multiple animals are scurrying about inside. Animals with four legs and padded paws.
Back with the other group, Zo hears some skittering coming from the southern-most door to the west. It sounds as if multiple animals are scurrying about inside. Animals with four legs and padded paws.
"Don't suppose Bargle likes puppies?" Zo mumurs without much hope. "Gregori, there's some kind of animals in here. Let me check the door for traps; then you can open it."
Gregori readies his sword.
"Don't suppose Bargle likes puppies?" Zo mumurs without much hope. "Gregori, there's some kind of animals in here. Let me check the door for traps; then you can open it."
Zo checks the door but fails to find any traps.
Zo quickly backs away from the door, setting a bolt into her crossbow and taking up a position across the room, ready to fire at anything that might come through to attack. After checking to see that Cordelia is ready, she gives Gregori a nod and waits for him to open the door.
With Rhade in the lead, followed by Ignacious and Father Meghdad, half the group leaves the harpy-infested dining room and heads back through the hallway to the south. They turn to the east and make their way through the bedroom and into the closet which adjoins it.
Rhade scouts ahead, wary of the kobolds in the north-eastern corner room. When he pokes his head around the corner, however, he is greeted by an empty chamber. It contains rubbish and refuse, but no kobolds.
The only other exit to the room seems to be an archway leaving to another room to the west. Unless it is just a closet, it should lead to a room directly next to the dining room.
Rhade motions with one hand for the others to stay put as he sneaks forward so he can get a closer look through the archway without being observed.
Rhade motions with one hand for the others to stay put as he sneaks forward so he can get a closer look through the archway without being observed.
Rhade carefully peeks into the room. It is rather nondescript, with trash littering the corners like most of the rooms in this ruin. The only thing of note is a small statue of a kobold, which stands in its center. The kobold stands on two feet and holds out a crude stone sword.
There is only one door which leads to the west, presumably to the harpy-dining room.
Gregori forces the door open with his shield, sword at the ready.
Rhade motions to the others to come closer.
Leaning back he holds a finger up in front of his mouth indicating for them to be quiet and then looks back inside the room.
"What the heck is that?" Rhade barely whispers.
Gregori forces the door open with his shield, sword at the ready.
With a heavy push, the paladin pushes the door out of the way. Beyond is a small closet which stinks of decay and putrid animal odors. Six giant white rats the size of large dogs are crouched around a carcass of some kind, squeaking and fighting with each other. As one they turn and face the intruders, prepared to defend their lair to the death!
Initiative!
Dire Rats 23
Ignacious 20
Zo 15
Rhade 15
Cordelia Crichton 10
Father Meghdad 9
Gregori Shadowbane 9
In the other room, Rhade examins the statue, but does not notice anything unusual about it. It just seems to be a statue. Through the unopened door, Rhade, Ignacious, and Father Meghdad hear the loud thud of wood being forced followed by loud, bass-rodent shrieks.
COMBAT ROUND 1
The rats launch themselves with terrifying speed and agility out of the room. Unable to react in time, Zo, Cordelia, and Gregori momentarily are taken flat-footed and can't strike at them in time. The dire rats bite at the surprised adventurers, foul, yellow teeth snapping at their arms and legs.
The rats attacking Gregori snap at his legs, but thankfully his armor is stout enough to ward off the blow. Cordelia and Zo are not as lucky. Two of the rats, one of which is just under the table, snap at their exposed legs and find soft flesh.
Zo quickly backs away from the door, setting a bolt into her crossbow and taking up a position across the room, ready to fire at anything that might come through to attack. After checking to see that Cordelia is ready, she gives Gregori a nod and waits for him to open the door.
Quickly shifting his stance, Gregori brings the point of his sword down on one of the filthy little creatures.
In the other room, Rhade examins the statue, but does not notice anything unusual about it. It just seems to be a statue. Through the unopened door, Rhade, Ignacious, and Father Meghdad hear the loud thud of wood being forced followed by loud, bass-rodent shrieks.
"What the?" Rhade mutters out loud.
Ignacious begins casting a summoning spell as soon as he hears the commotion.
COMBAT ROUND 1 CONTINUED
Zo squeezes off a shot with her crossbow as the rat advances towards her. She grazes it lightly in the rear haunches before it buries its teeth in her leg.
Ignacious begins casting a summoning spell as soon as he hears the commotion.
"What the?" Rhade mutters out loud. Rhade moves straight to that door ahead of him and opens it so he can see what's going on in the room next to the one holding the kobold statue. He sees the familiar harpy dining room overrun by white dire rats, and his friends fighting them off desperately!
Cordelia swings her scimitar is small arcs, trying her best to keep the nasty beasties from hurting her any more.
Father Meghdad charges through the door which Rhade just opened. Instantly sizing up the situation, he moves up to the nearest dire rat (the one under the table) and guts it with his scimitar. He calls out, "I thought you were supposed to wait until we explored the eastern room, before opening random doors!"
Quickly shifting his stance, Gregori brings the point of his sword down on one of the filthy little creatures. With a master stroke he decapitates the foul-smelling creature.
COMBAT ROUND 2
Zo 23
Dire Rats 23
Ignacious 20
Rhade 15
Cordelia Crichton 10
Father Meghdad 9
Gregori Shadowbane 9
Rhade moves up to help Father Meghdad and unless one of the dire rats comes into striking distance he'll provide aid another assistance to the cleric.
Rhade moves up to help Father Meghdad and unless one of the dire rats comes into striking distance he'll provide aid another assistance to the cleric.
Rhade will then sheath his blades and draw his bow and an arrow to use next round unless the little beggars find a way round both Zo and Father Meghdad[/ooc]
Swinging her empty crossbow low, between herself and the rat, Zo backs quickly around the table and through the door the rest of the party just came through.
Rhade will then sheath his blades and draw his bow and an arrow to use next round unless the little beggars find a way round both Zo and Father Meghdad[/ooc]Swinging her empty crossbow low, between herself and the rat, Zo backs quickly around the table toward the door the rest of the party just came through.
Will do, not a problem.
Gregori quickly turns, plunging his blade into the next rat within reach.
1d20+7=25, 1d8+2=7
Damage: 2d4+2=7