Revival of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master Cellion

Before the bug shows up:

Floredana channels energy and heals Kargas back to perfect health.

Now:

Laurana draws her bow.

Rig begins to dance, spear flashing. The sight of his carefree courage inspires everyone else.

Cade sets his feet and stands ready.

Cade: By this do you mean you are taking the total defense action? Or you could ready an attack if it comes into range.

Round 0: Initiative: Surprise Round!
Block 1: Cade, Floredana, Kargas, Laurana, Rig
Block 2: The Bug

Floredana and Kargas are up.

As my action for the surprise round, I drew my starknife! I apologize for not making that clear.

"That's a tick?! I see why the named they forest after them." Kargas stands, leaving his spear lying on the ground and instead drawing his falchion while stepping around Cade. "Move along, you ugly f!$!, this our kill." he growls at the tick.

Floredana draws her starknife, while Kargas moves up and pulls out his Falchion.

The bug advances through the brush towards the downed Boar, seemingly ignoring Cade and Kargas.

Cade and Kargas: you may make an attack of opportunity against the Giant Tick. However, you have a 20% miss chance due to the foliage.

Two more Giant ticks emerge from the bushes; one from the north, and one from the west. The both scuttle towards the Boar (and the group).

The two new ticks (red and blue) are in the open and there is no miss chance to attack them, as long as you have a clear shot to begin with.

Round 1: Initiative:
Block 1: Cade, Colvyn Floredana, Kargas, Laurana, Rig, Sir Aldern
Block 2: The Bugs

Everyone is up!

"There are two more! Let's make this quick everyone!" Flo shouts, then releases a swarm of butterflies over Kargas' weapon. Regular ticks are bad enough. These giant ones show entirely too much detail, how gross!
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Luck on Kargas

"Tickwood indeed." Continuing his dance, Rig moves to get a clear shot at one of the new arrivals.
continue inspire courage, swift for arcane strike, 5' step, attack

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

The boar spear flashes briefly in his hand before skewering the giant tick right in the thorax.

"Gads! They've got us surrounded!"

Sir Aldern drops his spear. He runs around behind the tick facing Rig, and while doing so, pulls out his walking stick. He tugs on the end, and pulls out a long slender blade! He tries to take the tick from behind.

sword cane, +2 flank, +1 bard: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 24
damage +1 bard: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (6) = 11

Floredana enchants Kargas' weapon again, and Rig steps forward and strikes the Tick in the thorax. It gives out a squeal like a broken teakettle. Sir Aldern comes around from behind and stabs it with a sword cane, and it collapses.

The ticks are AC 16.

Round 1: Initiative:
Block 1: Cade, Colvyn, Floredana, Kargas, Laurana, Rig, Sir Aldern
Block 2: The Bugs

Cade, Colvyn, Kargas and Lauana are up!

Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 9 Clean miss

Cursing as the thick underbrush interferes with his first swing, Kargas snarls and the smell of ozone thickens as his scars and eyes start to glow again. "Foes in every direction, heh, good," the half-orc rumbles, a strange static crackle in his voice as tiny arcs of electricity dance across his teeth. With a howl in brings his falchion crashing down.

Raging +6, +1 for Rig, +2 for flank with Cade, -1 Power Attack; lucky rerolls from Flor
Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 1 = 16 Miss on 1-2: 1d10 ⇒ 9 Falchion: 2d4 + 7 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4) + 7 + 3 + 1 = 16

With one ticks down, Colvyn heads back on the trail and aims for the one coming from behind the group. Thanks to the trail, he has a clear shot, but in a rush to get there, his bow got hooked on a branch and the arrow just hit the ground half way to the target.

Longbow+P.B.S.+Inspire: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 9

Lucky isn't a reroll Kargas, it is a roll twice and take the higher! Part of the reason I'm always showering you in butterfly swarms is to improve your crit chance :D You should be rolling all d20's twice until it is my turn again, including saves, skills, AoO's, etc. (the house rule of the offender rolling against our save class though means they would roll twice and take the lesser against you though)

Ahhh, I'm been misunderstanding this whole time. Thanks for the clarification!

Butterfly Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 12 I would prefer to keep the 8, methinks.

Cade watches as the thing comes near him but seems to be heading towards the pig.
Ohh I do not think so little buggy. That pig will feed lots of people back home.
AoO: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 29
Miss chance 1,2: 1d10 ⇒ 3
Confirm Critical: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 25
Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8

If purple tick is not dead then I would attack it again. If purple tick is dead than I will move and attack blue tick..the one with the spoon
Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Purple tick I hit AC 14, Blue Tick would be AC 12 no flank.
Now if purple tick is dead can I use my first roll...the critical..lol

Luarana was concerned at the new threat but just as quickly realizes that her companions were up to the task. Taking an arrow, she lined up the shot and took it but watched in her mind's eye as her arrow glanced off the ticks natural exoskeleton. Only a moment later she watched as the arrow did just that.

prescience: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10
mw short bow at blue tick: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 = 15

If Cade's critical hit AoO would have killed Purple Tick Kargas would move through Flor and Colvyn to hit Blue Tick

As the bug pushes it's way past Kargas and Cade, Cade manages to pierce it's exoskeleton with a quick thrust, though Kargas' swing is blocked by the underbrush.

Cade's critical did not kill it but Kargas finished it off.

Kargas then brings his falchion down and crushes the thorax of the giant insect.

Colvyn and Laurana both shoot at the remaining tick, but miss. Cade circles around and stabs at the last tick but also misses.

Cade: you didn't specify where you would end up so I put you to one side so the archers could still shoot.

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

The tick snaps at Cade with it's hooked mandibles! But Cade nimbly steps to one side.

Red, stabilize: 1d20 + 2 - 9 ⇒ (3) + 2 - 9 = -4
Purple, stabilize: 1d20 + 2 - 11 ⇒ (18) + 2 - 11 = 9

Round 2: Initiative:
Block 1: Cade, Colvyn Floredana, Kargas, Laurana, Rig, Sir Aldern
Block 2: The Bug (Red down @ -23, Purple down @ -25)

Everyone is up!

Aldern looks down at the dead tick.

"Hah! How do you like that, you scuttling pest?"

Hearing the others taking shots at the remaining tick. he moves through the brush to the north, but does not get quite close enough to engage.

Flo turns her head to look at Kargas, then to Rig. Kargas can take the path, but Rig isn't so lucky... "Rig! Desna guides your feet, charge!" she shouts, releasing yet another swarm of butterflies. However this time, they coalesce around Rig's feet. With her Goddess's support in place, she moves to the side of the path and waits for the chance to slash at the tick, should it move towards Colvyn.
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Rig can't pass up something like magical feet. He dances nimbly to the southwest, moving through the brush like it wasn't even there.

Twirling around after leaping over a small pile of brush, he brings down his weapon at the remaining tick

free action maintain, move, swift action arcane, attack
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

but it scuttles to the side at the last moment. Rig's spear impales the ground next to the insect's feet.

For the record, being in the bushes does give the tick a 20% miss chance if it attacks you.

Releasing his fury, Kargas sighs as the power of tempests recedes (fatigued) and retrieves his boar spear. Stepping up behind Colvyn, he gives the ranger a nod. "Take the shot, we'll back you up." he says, tilting his head to indicate Flor and himself.

I want to save that last round of raging in case there's another encounter.

Cade take another stab at the blue tick.
He smiles a bit as he feels the blade slide into soft flesh.
That will hurt a bit..but wait there is more to come....

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Enchanted by Floredana, Rig rushes forwards through the brush and strikes at the tick, but misses.

Kargas retrieves his spear, and Cade strikes at the tick, slipping his rapier through a gap in the critter's chitinous armor.

Round 2: Initiative:
Block 1: Cade, Colvyn Floredana, Kargas, Laurana, Rig, Sir Aldern
Block 2: The Blue Bug (-3) (Red down @ -23, Purple down @ -25)

Colvyn and Laurana are up! FYI the tick is in melee so the -4 penalty to hit applies. Also, Laurana, from your current position the tick also has cover for another -4 to hit. If you stepped in front of Colvyn (after his shot, presumably) then you wouldn't have a cover penalty.

Thanks. I will do just that after his shot.

Thanks. I will do just that after his shot.

If you post your action now with the condition that it takes place after Colvyn's action that would speed things up.

Luarana moved forward and fired again. But like the last try, she knew before it left her hand that it was futile.

prescience: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 4
attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 10
Almost like it knows that wizards aren't supposed to be able to hit.

This time Colvyn takes his time and focus on the target. Steadying his breathing, he releases the arrow and sends it flying.

Longbow+PBS+Inspire-in melee: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

Laurana and Colvyn both shoot but Laurana's shot strikes a tree branch and Colvyn's glances off the tick's chitinous armor.

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

The tick, unperturbed by the action around it, continues to bite at Cade! But its hooked mandibles close on nothing but air.

Red, stabilize: 1d20 + 2 - 10 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 10 = 5
Purple, stabilize: 1d20 + 2 - 12 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 12 = 4

Aldern steps into the bushes in front of him, trying to get at the tick. He stabs at it with his sword cane, but only manages to sratch the tick's chitin.

sword cane +2 flank +1 bard: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 10

Round 3: Initiative:
Block 1: Cade, Colvyn Floredana, Kargas, Laurana, Rig, Sir Aldern
Block 2: The Bug (-3) (Red down @ -24, Purple down @ -26)

Everyone is up! Cade is now flanking the tick with Sir Aldern.

Flo works her way through the brush around Cade and tries to stick the tick with her starknife. Unfortunately, she is also unable to get past the critter's thick armor! "We have it surrounded, bring it down!"

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Cade keeps his body dodging left and right hoping to keep the creatures attention on him alone so that the others may strike unhindered. He was used to up close combat. He smiles and laughs a bit here and there but always keeps his guard up and in place.
Come on buggy you are not even trying to hit me. That tree branch did nothing to do you, it is me that keeps poking ya. See I just did it again. Poky poky...

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

seeing that his weapon does very little damage if any at all, he shrugs it off
Paper cuts...lots and lots of paper cuts.

Since they only have a single opponent and it's surrounded, Rig does not continue his dance. fortunately, I go late in the turn
Leaving his spear stuck in the ground, Rig pulls out his scimitar and tries to lop the head off of the huge bug.

move to draw weapon, swift for arcane strike, attack
Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10 Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

Unfortunately, as he brings his sword around, a tree branch catches his arm, causing his blade to go astray.

Luarana watches as her companions struggle as much as she did. Gripping her bow, she felt the power surge in her as she prepared to call forth a spell that would hopefully end the fight.

sleep: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Flo works her way through the brush around Cade ...

Floredana circles around to the south towards the tick.

Floredana: You don't have enough movement to get to the square you put yourself in with a single move, unless you want to expose yourself to an attack of opportunity by moving through Cade's space. If you don't do that this move will take 45' or 50' of movement to get there depending on the route. Did you intend to use your agile feet ability on yourself? That would allow this move, but you didn't say so or mark a use of on your tracked resources. If so please specify.

fortunately, I go late in the turn

Rig draws his scimitar and slashes but the brush obscures his swing and he misses.

Rig: We are doing initiative in blocks, so unless you state that you are waiting for someone else to go before taking your action, people go in the order that they post. The order of characters shown on the initiative spread is just alphabetical.

Gripping her bow, she felt the power surge in her ...

Laurana begins casting a spell.

Laurana: Two things about sleep:

1. Sleep has a 1-round casting time. It will go off at the start of your next turn.

2. Sleep has an area of effect (it is a 10' radius burst). So when it goes off you need to select an intersection between grid squares to be the center and it will spread in all directions from there. Which means that it will likely hit allies as well as the tick. And since the lowest HD creatures are always affected first, if the tick has more than one HD than the characters in the party, your allies might be put to sleep and yet the tick ends up being unaffected.

If you want to do something else let me know.

Thanks for the mulligan. She will not do anything for the round, choosing to save her spells for later.

Laurana pulled back her bow but the slowly released the tension as there was no way to make a shot with that many people surrounding the beast.

________
Miscounted, thought I could make it without! I want that flank so I'll use my agile feet ability.

"Okay, okay, I'm helping." Kargas slips past Colvyn and Laurana, dropping the boar spear he just picked up to get a good grip on his falchion. Still drained from the sudden loss of his stormrage magic, the half-orc ignores his protesting muscles to lash out in a sudden upward slash.

+1 from Rig, -1 fatigue (also only +3 dmg for falchion instead of +4)
Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 - 1 = 21 Falchion: 2d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2, 4) + 3 + 1 = 10

@DM- gotcha

"Thanks, Kargas. We were softening him up for you."

I can't see anything from here. Colvyn moves to a new position, hoping to have a better view of the target. There, hopefully the next arrow will get through its thick skin.

Double move to new position.

The group circles around trying to get a bead on the tick. Floredana strikes from behind, Cade manages to score another minor wound, and Colvyn and Laurana both wait for a shot.

Then Kargas rushes in, and brings his falchion down on the dick, crushing it's thorax.

Combat Over.

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief as the giant insects are now all quiet.

"Beastly things!" sir Aldern shouts, as he runs his rapier into the head of the dying tick.

"Well, they call this the Tickwood for a reason, I suppose. Though I had heard that they don't normally attack humans. Strange, don't you think? Do you think that was a lie?"

Flo gestures to the large carcass on the floor. "It may have been that we were simply between them and what they thought was their next meal!"

"Great work everyone! Before anymore come our way, let's get out of here with our boar," she says while wiping off any gunk from her starknife. That's enough excitement for one day, I'm looking forward to eating some of this boar at the Inn! Kargas will surely get a lot of attention when the tale is told, maybe the not so secret target of his affection will take notice!

Luarana sniffed the air. "Yea, this thing smells terrible. I think it is time to go."

"Hey Foxglove, got any spare cloth? I wanna make a travois to drag our prize home."

Aldern holds up his sword cane after the tick is dead.

"I got this after our last encounter. I don't care to be caught unawares again. But I wanted something unobtrusive."

He sheaths the cane and then looks at Kargas.

"Hey Foxglove, got any spare cloth? I wanna make a travois to drag our prize home."

"I don't think I do, but normally you get a long pole and run it through, and then carry it like it's on a spit."

"I didn't bring any servants, so I suppose we have to carry it. I thought our party would be big enough already without a bunch of varlets running around. If we do this again I'll be sure to bring some."

Aldern shrugs and smiles in apology.

"I'm sure there are some saplings around here that would do the trick."

It doesn't take too long for the group to figure out how to carry the boar properly.

The group returns triumphantly to Sandpoint a little after 5 P.M. They pull up to the Rusty Dragon while Daviren Hosk brings the horses in to the stable next door.

Ameiko comes out to have a look at the boar.

"My, he's a big one, isn't he!"

She leans back and smiles at the others.

"It will take several hours to get him ready. A pig like that needs to cook for a fair while."

She looks at the group.

"Did you want to keep the head? It affects how I cook the thing."

Flo looks to Kargas and Aldern for their opinions on the boar's head. The thrill of the hunt was enough for me, can't say I care what happens to the trophy. She takes a seat then has a drink and a small meal to tide her over until the boar is ready.

Once the boar's head has been sorted out...
"Before we delve into our evening activities, did we have any appointments for tomorrow? I'm hoping that those of us on guard duty can sleep in long enough to get some real rest!" she comments as she nibbles at her food. Desna knows I need it. My eyes are starting to get heavy again!

Kargas shrugs in what he hopes is a nonchalant manner. "No, that's alright, the head will be just as good for eating as the rest."