Perhaps attracted by the singing, hordes of rats emerge from the tumbled walls. They are a chittering, seething mass of teeth.
Commander Caine takes one look and realises his best tactic at present is to help his comrades. He waits, poised to assist at the opportune moment.
The rats surge forwards, the first rat swarm (RS1) converges on Fairwind (move to E8), biting and snapping.
The second swarm heads for Cronin (move to H15), pausing only to ease their way around the wall. The third swarm simply advances (move to M21).
Brujo's action yanks the iron cobra next to him. The creature raises its hood, swings back and prepares to strike. At the same moment, the guardians mouths open impossibly wide to reveal rows of gnashing teeth. Their attention is now firmly on Brujo. The blaster pulls back the string of its bow.
Since Leo's up first he'll pull back to R1 still not using Stealth to draw off the golems and go total defence whilst doing so.
"Go the other way and don't pick fights where it isn't necessary especially as these golems are part of the ruins defences!" Leo yells as he backs off.
The cobra lunges at Brujo, just breaking his defences. The iron fangs bite deep into his arm and he feels horribly nauseous. .
The defenders advance seemingly unable to decide who to target next, confused by Leo's move away. Defender 1 heads for Brujo and tries to bite him.
Defender 2 heads for Leo. . The bolt blaster strides imperiously down towards Leo and releases a bolt while winching a new one into place. The shot misses.
Cronin tenses and crouches, growling, when the rats appear. He touches his holy symbol and silver flames burst into existence over the nearest swarm. This strike inspires Fairwind to renewed energy.
Sacred Flame vs Ref (1d20 6=25, 1d6 6=9)
Cronin then backs up toward Caine (E13).
Brujo clutches the bite, a smile comes across his face. "And I thought today would be dull"
With a wide swing of his blade he releases a wave of sound and frost.
Perigia's missile just glides over the top of the cobra's head. Brujo's attack is more successful and the thunder reverberates horribly over the ancient metallic body as icy crystals form around the jagged wound.
Rats!
Fairwind wrinkles her nose and steps away from the swarm, muttering her fire incantation.
Brujo
Your scar flares. Perhaps the poison affected it, even though the effects were quelled so quickly. To the end of this encounter, before you make an attack please roll an unmodified d20. On a 1-10 your reflexes are affected by the scar and your attack and damage rolls are all made at -1. On 11 or above, the opposite is true. The scar seems to infuse you with a supernatural ability to hit and you gain a +1 to attack and damage.
Be aware that any attack involving ongoing damage will have some impact on your spellscar of an arbitrary nature.
Caine shakes his head and draws his greatsword before ducking around the corner and scything through the rats. Although his blow does less damage than might be expected, several of the little squeakers will never rise again.
The kobolds look on in awe at your antics. "Don't squash them! Good eating on rats." calls Snaggletooth.
Round 2 - rats all go first
Rat swarm 1 swarms angrily around Caine and in retaliation for his attack, attack ferociously, nipping teeth grabbing onto the warlord's ankles.
Rat swarm 2 continues to advance, and rat swarm three skitters towards Cronin and attacks the shifter. Dart like teeth inflict numerous small and painful wounds.
Cronin shakes himself, dislodging a number of rats, and backs away (D15). Invoking Selune's silver fire again, he attacks the nearest rats (R3), inspiring Caine.
Cronin then invokes a word and his wounds from the rats begin to close.
Finally, he move his hands in a warding gesture, and a shimmer arises between himself and the rats.
Sacred Flame vs Ref (1d20 6=15, 1d6 6=12)
[ooc]Leo employs divine strength as a minor action before cutting loose with a Pain of Death on D2 rolling a 16+4 for 20 which if it hits does 21pts of damage or 10 if it missed and after this if it makes any attacks takes 1d8pts of damage or 1d4 if it missed until it makes its save and then shifts one square to Q1[ooc]
Leo realising Brujo and Perigia can't pull back from the oncoming fight Brujo has exasperated steps forward to engage the nearest golem calling upon his faith.
"Kelemvor guide my hand!" he hollers as a strange glimmer of silvery light washes from Leo and swipes at the golem in front of him.
Defender 2 emits a curious wheezing noise as Leo blasts it with divinely infused fury.
Lashing out at Brujo and missing, the cobra raises its head again, alert for further movement. Then it retreats, taking the shortest path back towards the pillar.
Defender 1 also retreats, following the cobra, as does defender 2. The Arbalaster also backs away. Something about the triggers that activate these things seems to be awry.
Midterm map for Guardian botherers
Lashing out at Brujo and missing, the cobra raises its head again, alert for further movement. Then it retreats, taking the shortest path back towards the pillar.
As the cobra retreats, it is filled with a roar of sound.
Rev
Is the flare up of my scar visible at the moment? If it is Brujo will fall back(full defense) and try to hide the flare under his garments. Can't trust these people too much.
Brujo freezes and allows the cobra to slide away, poised to defend himself.
Brujo
Yup. It's visible. Glowing with eerie blue flames. It's on your arm isn't it?
Brujo freezes and allows the cobra to slide away, poised to defend himself.
Brujo** spoiler omitted **
Rev
Rev** spoiler omitted **
Brujo
Good luck with hiding that. Depending on what he's wearing, I shall have to ask Perigia and Leo to make Perception checks. It's true that surrounded by weird metal enemies they're not likely to be looking at you, so it'll be a highish DC, but blue flame is pretty hard to ignore.
Brujo** spoiler omitted **
Rev** spoiler omitted **
Rev
Brujo
You're right, he does have to try. Let's see if they pick up on anything. You're wielding a sword that flashes a lot and booms and churns out icy doom. Flaring scars could be missed in all that.
Fairwind bats off the rats in annoyance.
Longsword and shortsword vs AC against whichever rat swarm I'm next to (1d20+7=12, 1d20+7=10)
Guardian botherers
Perigia's chilling blast almost brings Defender 2 to a halt.
Rat team
Caine scythes through rats once more, his greatsword adding to the casualties. Then he ducks out of range.
"Perigia! You're needed over here. Leave the metal critters and come and fry some furballs."
Cronin falls back again (C13), and issues the silver flame at R3. At the same instant, his magical shield falls.
Caine scythes through rats once more, his greatsword adding to the casualties. Then he ducks out of range."Perigia! You're needed over here. Leave the metal critters and come and fry some furballs."
Rat Team
The needle-toothed rodents swarm towards you, nipping and biting.
Attack v AC
v Cronin (who is at +5) - 20
v Fairwind - 14
v Caine - 17
Close, but probably not close enough to damage any of you.
Brujo** spoiler omitted **
When Leo's turn comes up again he moves straight ahead to L1 and goes total defence
Caine scythes through rats once more, his greatsword adding to the casualties. Then he ducks out of range."Perigia! You're needed over here. Leave the metal critters and come and fry some furballs."
Guardian team
The ancient guards continue to move back towards the mysterious pillar. Although the Arbalaster has a bolt at the ready, the walls prevent it taking a clear shot at any of you.
Brujo
Since both Leo and Perigia failed their perception checks, you managed to hide your flaring spellscar.
Rat team
Cronin makes a bold effort, but cannot make any impact on the rodents.
"This is not how I saw my day going", Brujo says placing a hand over his face. He moves away from Perigia and falls to his knee.
Rev
Once the effect disappear, or if the others are in dire need (which ever comes first). I'll re-enter the battle.
Longsword, shortsword twinstrike on Arbalester (1d20+7=17, 1d20+7=21)
Damage (1d8+3=4, 1d6+3=5)
Fairwind snarls in frustration and fends off the rats, slashing at the rodents in a blur of motion.
Fairwind effectively marmelizes a few rats, and Caine urges her on to further efforts, while carefully moving out of the way himself.
Rats!: Round 4 after rat moves.
The little squeakers dismally fail to land any more attacks, although their chittering and skittering is no less annoying and dangerous for that.
Longsword (1d20+7=25)
Longsword damage (1d8+3=10)
"Take that, ya squeaky mess!"
Fairwind's blows dice up a few more rats and this swarm is also dropped to half its number.
Guardians
Rats!
Cronin backs away from the rats and toward the other fight (B15), missing R3 with another sacred flame.
Twin Strike - longsword and shortsword (1d20+7=24, 1d20+7=24)
Damage (1d8+3=9, 1d6+3=4)
A woman possessed, Fairwind deals as many sword blows as if they were stones from a sling!
Caine's greatsword swipes down again and the warlord hums happily under his breath as he keeps backing away.
Snaggletooth and Kneebiter look on in some awe as Fairwind and Caine ketchup rats.
"They can kill things well." nods Kneebiter approvingly. Snaggletooth looks sidelong.
"Wasteful. Should keep them whole for kebabs."
"Aaaahhh! Get them off of me!"
"Aaaahhh! Get them off of me!"
"Aaaahhh! Get them off of me!"
Realising that only her spells have much chance of affecting the carpets of rats, Perigia sprints towards the furry squeakers. Ducking low behind the walls to give herself cover from the Arbalaster, she moves towards the other fight.
Leo - is up
Cobra
Defender 1
Defender 2
Brujo
Arbalaster
Cronin
The seething rodents advance once more on Commander Caine, possibly sensing his distaste. Needle sharp teeth and writhing furry bodies swarm up his legs and invade his armour.
Fairwind is luckier. The swarm enveloping her misses entirely. However, she can see Ratswarm 2 fast approaching.
You both look with gratitude at Perigia's timely arrival.
RATS!: Round 4, post rat moves
Long and the short of it with twin strike (1d20+7=16, 1d20+7=26)Damage Long and short (1d8+3=6, 1d6+3=7)
Fairwind rolls her eyes at Caine's squawking. "Hang on, soldier-boy, we'll make sure the lil beasties don't scare ya none." she shouts ironically.
There is no longer enough of ratswarm three to make a pair of furry mittens.