Hoping she's acting before the metal snakes can react, Douena dashes through the door, past Pezock, and darts between the coiled serpents onto the staircase.
Straining and craning his neck to see Mahjik takes a few seconds to eventually make out the clanky smoothness of the metal snakes' motions. "Oh. Oh! I've seen those before, well kind of, a dojo I visited used them to train acolytes. They were a bit slower, but otherwise much the same. Their bite may be poisonous, but only for the first few bites, then they run out and the poison needs to be refilled."
Douena scurries between the awakening metal snakes fast enough that they are unable to react. Reaching the stairs, she starts down them only to find that past the curve, the stairs descend into rubble. Whatever they once led to has collapsed with age and the stairs are now impassable.
Next Up: Lorenz, Cobras, Jask, Urza, Mahjik, Sasha, Ishirou, Tar'kanas, Pezock, Shokambe, Untari (subject to delayed action), Douena.
Quick on Douena's heels, Makoa moves forward, but instead of disappearing into the rubble like Douena, Makoa stops to engage the snakes.
-- hit
He bites down at the cobra to his left, tearing into the metal scales and pulling bits of them apart. Overall, there is less damage than you might expect for the strength of his bite , but the cobra is still significantly dented.
Lorenz moves from the back to just behind Urza and tries to aim a shot into room.
-- hit
Despite the people in the way, his shot flies true and lands solidly in the body of the snake. It doesn't quite take it down, however.
-- miss
-- hit
-- fail
Con
-- miss
-- miss
-- hit
-- pass
-- miss
The cobras lash out with lightning speed, each snapping twice with their sharp metal teeth at their targets. Most of the bites miss, but one bite lands on Pezock's leg, doing minor damage, but the tengu stumbles a bit, clearly weakened from the poison in their bite. Another bite gets Makoa's ankle, but Makoa resists the poison.
Jask delays.
Next Up: Mahjik, Sasha, Ishirou, Tar'kanas, Pezock, Shokambe, Untari (subject to delayed action), Douena, Makoa, Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action).
Urza targets #1 with Magic Missile
Mahjik's actions stay the same as previously announced.
-- fail
Urza's bolts fly out, but suddenly wink out of existence just before hitting their target.
Mahjik takes up a defensive stance in case something approaches from the rear.
Sasha waits.
Ishirou moves into the open space remaining beside Pezock and Makoa and attacks.
-- miss
He swings down, but the snake is too quick and darts aside.
Next Up: Pezock, Shokambe, Untari (subject to delayed action), Douena, Makoa, Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza, Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou.
Seeing how he has no shot and no place to move, Tar'kanas waits for an opening.
Taken by surprise by the speed of the snakes, Pezock has been unusually slow to act. He recovers now and places his attack.
-- hit, critical threat
-- not confirmed
His blade makes contact with the cobra's body, but just slides off. Pezock hisses angrily.
Shokambe waits.
Next Up: Douena, Makoa, Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza, Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou, Tar'kanas (subject to delayed action), Pezock, Shokambe (subject to delayed action).
Douena waits patiently in her hiding place for everyone else to smash the metal snakes.
With nothing left to do but continue his attacks, Makoa swings his axe as hard as he can while trying to bite the metal serpent.
Frustrated with the metal snake's resistance to his devastating spell, Urza goes with a simple cantrip.
Acid Splash: RTouch, fire into melee
to hit damage
Untari and Douena wait.
Makoa continues his attacks, swinging his axe and biting, but the snake ducks aside from each attack.
Lorenz squints and tries to fire between the increased number of people standing between him and the snakes.
-- miss
Unfortunately, the cover and quickness of the snakes makes the shot too difficult and the arrow just hits the floor.
-- miss
-- miss
-- hit
-- pass
-- miss
-- hit
-- pass
-- hit
-- pass
-- pass
The cobras snap to attack. Pezock is quicker to get out of the way this time, but the two snakes ganging up on Makoa make it more difficult for him to move out of the way of their bites. Their teeth pierce his calves several times, but his robustness protects him from the poison.
Jask continues to delay.
Urza sends a glob of acid flying into the battle field, but the snake slides quickly aside and the acid splashes harmlessly on the ground.
Next Up: Sasha, Ishirou, Tar'kanas (subject to delayed action), Pezock, Shokambe (subject to delayed action), Untari (subject to delayed action), Douena (subject to delayed action), Makoa, Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza.
Mahjik remains on alert at the back of the group. Sasha continues to wait.
-- hit
Ishirou attacks again, bringing his katana down squarely in the middle of nearest cobra, smashing it and nearly cutting it in half. It twitches briefly, almost like an actual living creature might, and then ceases all movement.
Next Up: Pezock, Shokambe (subject to delayed action), Untari (subject to delayed action), Douena (subject to delayed action), Makoa, Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza, Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou.
Hearing the sounds of battle, Douena pops out of her hiding place to see how the battle is going. "Boo!" she shouts at the back of the iron snake, stabbing at it with the starknife Desna gave her.
Douena steps out of her hiding place, drawing the attention of snake #2. Immediately after she does so, Pezock steps over the downed snake to flank with her. Douena stabs with her starknife, the blade sinking just a little between the metal scales.
-- hit, critical threat
-- not confirmed
Pezock follows up with a stronger blow from his sabre, but still not enough to incapacitate it.
Shokambe continues to delay.
Next Up: , Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza, Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou, Tar'kanas (subject to delayed action), Douena, Pezock, Shokambe.
Makos continues his attack on the metallic serpents, this time trying to favor accuracy over brute force.
Unfortunately, Makoa's attempts at greater accuracy don't go so well as the snake slips away from each attack.
Lorenz moves up a bit closer, beside Ishirou, trying to get a better shot.
Unfortunately, once again, his arrow hits the floor harmlessly.
-- miss
-- hit
-- fail
Con
-- hit
-- pass
-- miss
The cobras lash out again, each one managing to get a single hit on its opponent. Pezock is further weakened by the poison, but Makoa once again shrugs it off. Unfortunately, the cumulative damage of their bites is starting to show on Makoa.
Jask continues to wait.
Next Up: Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou, Tar'kanas (subject to delayed action), Douena, Pezock, Shokambe, Untari (subject to delayed action), Makoa, Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action).
Urza tries again to help finish off the more damaged looking of the two.
Acid Splash: RTouch, fire into melee
to hit damage
Urza has better luck this time, as his target is not quite quick enough to move out of the way. A glob of acid splays across it, dissolving parts of the scales and sinking into the cracks. The snake continues to operate, however.
Mahjik remains on alert for other dangers. Sasha stands on tip-toes and tries to see what is happening, but otherwise delays.
Unable to reach any of the remaining cobras, Ishirou stands at ready.
Next Up: , , Pezock, Shokambe, Untari (subject to delayed action), Makoa, Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza, Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou (subject to readied action).
"Saber it again, Pezock!" she encourages the tengu, continuing to distract the metal snake from the top of the stairs.
It's not much, but Urza continues to spew acid at the snakes.
Acid Splash: RTouch
to hit damage
Mahjik will, at next opportunity, backtrack a bit to the entrance of the building where they got in. To keep an eye on the outside and make sure nothing is going on there.
-- hit
Although Douena is unable to hit the cobra this time around, she is able to distract it just long enough for Pezock to bring down his sabre in a swift arc that completely smashes the metal snake. "Ha!" Pezock yells triumphantly. "Good work!" he says to Douena.
Shokambe continues delaying.
Untari waits.
Next Up: Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza, Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou (subject to readied action), Tar'kanas (subject to delayed action), Douena, Pezock, Shokambe (subject to delayed action).
-- hit
-- miss
Makoa turns his attention to the remaining metal cobra and swings his axe down. The blade connects with the snake's side, but slides off the thick scales.
-- hit
Lorenz takes a deep breath and tries again. This time, the arrow goes right between Pezock's and Makoa's legs and into the neck of the snake, slipping between the scales. The snake is still active, but quite damaged now.
-- hit
-- pass
The snake lashes out once and then again. On the second try, it sinks its teeth into Makoa's ankle, once again depositing poison. But once again, Makoa resists.
Jask continues to wait, while Urza fires another glob of acid. This one lands just beside where Lorenz's arrow hit, causing a bit more of the scale to melt away.
Mahjik returns to the entrance to keep a better watch there. Everything there seems quiet at the moment.
Sasha waits and Ishirou remains ready to attack should an opportunity present itself. Tar'kanas waits as well.
Next Up: Pezock, Shokambe (subject to delayed action), Untari (subject to delayed action), Makoa, Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza, Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou (subject to readied action), Tar'kanas (subject to delayed action).
-- pass
Pezock shifts over beside Douena to make space for someone else to get at the snake .
-- hit
He swings at the snake, hitting it across the head, but not penetrating its armoured scales.
Shokambe continues to wait.
Untari continues to wait.
Next Up: Lorenz, Cobras, Jask (subject to delayed action), Urza, Mahjik, Sasha (subject to delayed action), Ishirou (subject to readied action), Tar'kanas (subject to delayed action), Douena (subject to delayed action), Pezock, Shokambe (subject to delayed action), Untari (subject to delayed action).
-- miss
-- miss
Makoa tries to get at the remaining cobra, but it darts aside of each of his attacks.
With a bit more space open to him, Lorenz decides to sacrifice a bit of accuracy in hopes of getting more hits.
-- hit
-- hit
He fires off two arrows in quick succession, both finding their marks. The second arrow pierces the eye of the metal snake, which topples over, twitches, then stops moving. Lorenz lets out a long breath of relief. "This is a horrible place to fight in," he says.
"And it was all pointless," Douena adds sadly, stepping back up into the crowded room. "The staircase is all caved in. We can't get down that way. Did you get bit, Pezock? Are you all right, Makoa?"
"Wise man sees light in the way shadows move," Mahjik grins. "The staircase may be inaccessible - but down there", Mahjik indicates beyond the stairs path, "exists. That means there may be even more to the building than what can be readily assessed from the outside. That in itself is substantial already."
Pezock tilts his head and glares at Mahjik. "And how are we supposed to get there?" he says. "Does wise man say that?"
Jask steps between Mahjik and Pezock. "Perhaps we should explore the accessible areas first."
"Wise man also teaches not to quarrel with fools, for they will bring you to their level and beat you with experience," Mahjik points, "Look Pezt, there's a whole massive structure - odds are there are more than one set of stairs."
"We could split our sizable group up and explore for a bit in different directions, then return and tell what we found."
Pezock's feathers bristle at Mahjik's words. He looks about to say something in anger when Makoa steps in. Pezock backs up a bit with a grumble.
"Splitting up might not be a bad idea," Jask says. "We might be able to move more quickly and stealthily in smaller groups. We should be careful, though."
"Whenever we split up, bad things happen," Douena protests with a glance at Jask. "And if we get too far apart, we won't be able to keep in touch with my magic."
"She's right. We're not only safest, but we are all better when we are together. But I do agree that the accessible areas are where we should start."
"That's a fair point," Jask says, then adds quietly to Douena, "I was just trying to diffuse the situation and didn't really think there."
"Yes, accessible," Pezock says, striding back into the room south of the snake room. "We'll try one of these doors." He looks to the east and then the west, and contemplates a moment.
"This way!" he says pointing to the east.
"Wait just a minute!" Douena demands, noticing that Pezock seems wobbly on his feet and pale beneath his feathers. "You're hurt, Pezock, and Makoa got bit, too. Let me heal you first." She glances up at the roof doubtfully. "Let's go back outside a minute. Desna seems to like it more when we're asking for her blessings under an open sky."
She shoos Makoa and Pezock toward the door they came in by. As they pass, she whispers to Mahjik. "When you see us coming back, you open the door. Pezock doesn't need to be up front again right away. I don't think he's feeling well."
Once outside on the doorstep, Douena channels Desna's healing.
"I'm perfectly fine," Pezock grumbles unconvincingly, but follows along anyway. After the healing, his wounds have mostly closed, but he still looks unsteady on his feet.
"Wait, Makoa," she stops him from re-entering the structure right away. "Looks like you got bit a lot." She takes out the wand and taps him until the puncture marks from the metal fangs scab over convincingly.
"Thank you, little one." He tells her as he's left with some bad looking scrapes.
"Splitting the party is problematic, I agree, but what about having some of us set up a secure base camp for us to recover in later. This looks like we won't be leaving this area today still - so having a safe place to fall back to would help."